Steven Spielberg is returning to science fiction with a new untitled film based on his own story about UFO phenomena. The project will be his first major work in the genre since War of the Worlds in 2005 and marks a reunion with Universal Pictures, where he began his career. Early descriptions call it “a return to form in the spirit of his monumental classics, with a propulsive, out of this world twist.”
Specific details about the plot are still tightly controlled, but early footage shown in June 2025 gave a sense of its tone and scope. The clip featured Emily Blunt as a woman living in a rural setting who becomes the target of pursuers driving unmarked black cars. A major sequence reportedly shows Blunt and co-star Josh O’Connor in a chase that ends when their car collides with a moving train. While UFOs appear central to the story, the preview suggested themes of government pursuit and secrecy more than direct alien contact. The imagery recalled the suspense and sense of wonder that defined Spielberg’s earlier films such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
As reported by Variety last spring, Spielberg came up with an original UFO-based story that led to a script by his longtime collaborator, David Koepp (Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).
The cast includes Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell. Spielberg directs and produces the film and is credited with the original story idea. The screenplay is written by David Koepp, who previously collaborated with Spielberg on Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. John Williams, Spielberg’s longtime creative partner, is composing the score, his 30th for the director. Costume design is by Paul Tazewell, known for his work on the 2021 remake of West Side Story.
Production began in February 2025 under the working title Non-View, though other rumored titles surfaced, including Disclosure, The Dish, and War of the Worlds 2: The New Chapter. Shooting took place across several locations, including Cape May Seashore Lines in New Jersey, McGinley Square in Jersey City, Atlanta, New York City, and Huntington. Filming wrapped in late May 2025, followed by a private screening of early footage during the opening of the Steven Spielberg Theater at Universal Studios.
The film is scheduled to open in theaters on June 12, 2026. The first trailer will debut in December 2025 ahead of screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash, with additional promotion tied to previews for The Odyssey and Avengers: Doomsday. An official online release date for the trailer has not yet been confirmed.
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English (US) · 