Universal Pictures has shifted the release date of Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated untitled event film, rumoured to centre on aliens to June 12, 2026. This strategic move positions the film away from a crowded May slate featuring Disney’s Avengers: Doomsday and The Mandalorian & Grogu, ensuring Spielberg’s latest sci-fi venture has room to shine.
With a star-studded cast and a script by longtime collaborator David Koepp, the project marks Spielberg’s return to the extraterrestrial storytelling that launched his career into the stratosphere decades ago.
A Legacy of Alien Encounters
Spielberg is no stranger to the cosmos. His fascination with UFOs and alien life has been a recurring theme across his illustrious filmography, cementing his status as a pioneer of science fiction cinema.
His first foray into the genre came with Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), a groundbreaking film he wrote and directed. Starring Richard Dreyfuss, it follows an everyman’s quest to understand mysterious UFO sightings, culminating in a awe-inspiring first contact with benevolent extraterrestrials. The film’s iconic five-note musical motif and its optimistic portrayal of alien intelligence remain cultural touchstones.
Five years later, Spielberg delivered E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), a deeply personal tale of a boy, Elliott (Henry Thomas), who befriends a stranded alien. Directed by Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison, E.T. became a global phenomenon, blending heartwarming family dynamics with sci-fi wonder. It held the record as the highest-grossing film of all time for over a decade, showcasing Spielberg’s ability to merge the cosmic with the intimate.
In 2005, Spielberg tackled a darker alien narrative with War of the Worlds, an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel. Starring Tom Cruise, the film depicts a terrifying invasion by advanced Martian tripods, focusing on a father’s desperate struggle to protect his children. Unlike the hopeful tones of Close Encounters and E.T., this film embraced a more apocalyptic vision, reflecting post-9/11 anxieties.
Spielberg’s extraterrestrial influence extends beyond directing. As a producer, he backed Super 8 (2011), directed by J.J. Abrams, a nostalgic nod to his own early works featuring a group of kids uncovering an alien mystery. He also produced the TV miniseries Taken (2002), a sprawling exploration of alien abductions across generations, and the 2023 Netflix docuseries Encounters, which delves into real-life UFO testimonies.
Even Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), which he directed, stirred controversy by introducing interdimensional beings—interpreted by some as aliens—into the adventurer’s saga, though it was penned by David Koepp, who also wrote War of the Worlds.
Details about Spielberg’s upcoming film remain tantalizingly scarce, shrouded in the secrecy typical of his high-profile projects. Described as a “new original event film,” it’s widely speculated to revolve around UFOs, based on an idea conceived by Spielberg himself.
David Koepp, whose collaborations with Spielberg include Jurassic Park and War of the Worlds, has penned the screenplay, fueling expectations of a blockbuster with both spectacle and substance. The cast boasts heavyweights like Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Wyatt Russell, suggesting a narrative that balances star power with diverse perspectives.
Rumoured titles include The Dish or Disclosure, though Universal has yet to confirm either. Industry insiders hint at a UFO-centric plot, possibly revisiting themes of human-alien interaction but with a fresh twist. Actor Colman Domingo, in a recent podcast appearance on Happy Sad Confused, teased that the film is “something new and different” and a “love letter to humanity,” suggesting it may lean toward the hopeful humanism of Close Encounters rather than the dread of War of the Worlds.
Spielberg’s involvement as co-writer alongside Koepp further implies a deeply personal vision, one that could reflect his decades-long contemplation of extraterrestrial life.
While the exact plot remains under wraps, speculation abounds. Could it explore modern-day UFO phenomena, perhaps inspired by recent real-world disclosures about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)? Or might it revisit Spielberg’s signature blend of awe and discovery set against a contemporary backdrop?
Given his track record, expect a narrative that marries cutting-edge visuals with emotional resonance, potentially positioning it as a cultural event akin to his earlier sci-fi triumphs.
A Strategic Release Shift
Originally slated for May 15, 2026, the film’s initial date placed it between Avengers: Doomsday (May 1) and The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22), two franchise juggernauts likely to dominate the box office. Universal’s decision to move it to June 12 avoids this clash, though it still faces competition from Paramount’s Scary Movie reboot on the same day and Disney’s Toy Story 5 a week later on June 19.
The shift also displaced an untitled project from Everything Everywhere All at Once directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, highlighting Spielberg’s priority status at the studio.
This isn’t the first time Spielberg has navigated a crowded release calendar. His history as the “father of the summer blockbuster”—starting with Jaws (1975)—underscores his knack for turning original ideas into must-see events. Yet, while critically acclaimed, recent films like West Side Story (2021) and The Fabelmans (2022) didn’t replicate the mass appeal of his earlier hits, suggesting a return to sci-fi could rekindle that magic.
Anticipation Builds
Spielberg’s UFO film arrives at a time when public interest in UAPs is surging, spurred by government reports and declassified footage. With a director whose name is synonymous with cinematic wonder and a cast poised to elevate the material, the project promises to be a defining moment in 2026’s film landscape.
Whether it’s a spectacle of first contact, a meditation on humanity’s place in the universe, or something entirely unexpected, one thing is certain: Spielberg’s next close encounter is one the world will be watching.
Sources
- Movie Web: Steven Spielberg UFO Movie Gets New Release Date Away From ’Avengers: Doomsday’
- Variety: Ageless Auteurs: Scorsese Eyes Frank Sinatra Biopic With Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, Spielberg Tackling UFO Movie and More
- Punch Drunk Critics: Steven Spielberg’s 2026 UFO Film Moves Away From ’Avengers’ And ’The Mandalorian’
