Steven Spielberg unveils trailer for UFO thriller Disclosure Day, signaling humanity's first contact
Trailer hints at high-stakes discovery as meteorologist and investigators confront alien life
Steven Spielberg on Tuesday released the trailer for Disclosure Day, a UFO thriller that promises humanity’s first contact with intelligent alien life. Clocking in at just over two minutes, the teaser opens with a chilling question and follows a meteorologist whose live broadcast is upended by an unseen force. The film, described as a return to the director’s science-fiction roots, features Emily Blunt in the lead role alongside a starry ensemble.
It centers on Blunt’s meteorologist who is abruptly seized by a mysterious extraterrestrial presence during a live report. Josh O’Connor plays a tenacious figure pursuing a truth about alien life, while the trailer fills the screen with cryptic crop circles, high-speed chases, and eerie, otherworldly creatures. The promotional material suggests the story will probe questions about whether humanity is truly alone and what revelations might come with first contact.
Billboards bearing the message All will be disclosed — Spielberg 06.12.26 appeared in Times Square and in Los Angeles on December 10, adding to the buzz around the project. The cryptic marketing underscores Spielberg’s long-standing fascination with UFOs and outer space, a thread that runs from his childhood in New Jersey to his adult filmography.
Executive producers say Disclosure Day is based on an original story by Spielberg, though the screenplay was written by David Koepp, a veteran writer who helped craft Jurassic Park and War of the Worlds. Koepp’s involvement ties the film to Spielberg’s most enduring sci-fi collaborations, while the cast brings together Blunt with Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson and Wyatt Russell in supporting roles.
Spielberg’s interest in the unknown dates to a childhood night when his father woke him to watch the Perseid meteor shower. That wonder helped shape his early work, including a 1964 student film and later hits such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T., which long stood among the era’s box-office leaders. After rebooting War of the Worlds in 2005, Spielberg has spent years returning to more intimate sci-fi storytelling, making Disclosure Day a notable entry in the genre.
Fans and critics have discussed the trailer on social platforms, praising Blunt’s restrained performance and the film’s ominous tone. One viewer noted a moment when Blunt’s meteorologist registers unusual activity on a live feed, while others highlighted the teaser’s cryptic visuals and the sense that the story will balance intimate human drama with cosmic mystery.
While the trailer provides a strong sense of mood and stakes, details about plot and release plans remain limited. The promotional materials emphasize the first contact premise and Spielberg’s signature sense of wonder, while Koepp’s screenplay promises a blend of awe, peril and investigation as humanity confronts the possibility that it may not be alone.
Disclosure Day marks Spielberg’s return to original sci-fi storytelling after years of collaborating on established franchises. The film’s cast also includes Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson and Wyatt Russell, expanding a lineup that has drawn attention from fans of both Spielberg’s past work and contemporary science-fiction drama. Further updates are expected as distributors confirm a formal release date and share new material.