Steven Spielberg Teases Upcoming Film on Extraterrestrial Life

Acclaimed director shares his beliefs about the possibility of alien existence ahead of "Disclosure Day" movie release.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 6:31pm

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In a keynote conversation at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin, acclaimed director Steven Spielberg expressed his strong suspicion that humanity is not alone on Earth. Spielberg, who has explored themes of extraterrestrial life in many of his films, shared his views on the odds of life beyond our planet and teased details about his upcoming movie "Disclosure Day" which will further examine the topic of alien existence.

Why it matters

Spielberg's comments come at a time when public fascination with the possibility of alien life has reached a fever pitch, especially following recent remarks by former President Barack Obama that were interpreted by many as hinting at the existence of extraterrestrials. Spielberg's new film "Disclosure Day" is poised to further stoke this ongoing cultural discourse around the topic.

The details

During his SXSW appearance, Spielberg told the audience he has a "very strong suspicion" that humans are not alone on Earth, and questioned whether we may have had alien company over the past 80 years or even thousands of years. He also acknowledged that he has never had a personal encounter with extraterrestrials himself. Spielberg traced his longstanding fascination with the unexplained, from his iconic films about sharks to his movies featuring unidentified flying objects.

  • Spielberg made these comments during a keynote conversation at the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  • Spielberg's upcoming film "Disclosure Day" is set to further explore the topic of extraterrestrial life.

The players

Steven Spielberg

An acclaimed American film director, producer, and screenwriter known for his work on iconic movies featuring themes of the unexplained, including "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial".

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, who recently made comments that were interpreted by many as hinting at the possibility of alien existence.

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What they’re saying

“I have a very strong suspicion that we are not alone here on Earth right now. I made a movie about that.”

— Steven Spielberg, Film Director

“Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there's life out there.”

— Barack Obama, Former President of the United States

What’s next

Spielberg's upcoming film "Disclosure Day" is expected to further explore the topic of extraterrestrial life and provide new insights into the ongoing cultural discourse around the possibility of alien existence.

The takeaway

Steven Spielberg's comments at SXSW and his upcoming film "Disclosure Day" underscore the enduring public fascination with the possibility of alien life, a topic that has captivated the acclaimed director throughout his storied career in filmmaking.