For decades, Steven Spielberg has repeatedly returned to stories about life beyond Earth. Between the awe of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the terrifying invasion of War of the Worlds, the legendary filmmaker has long been fascinated by humanity’s place in a much bigger universe. So when Barack Obama recently spoke about aliens, Spielberg had a simple reaction.

Steven Spielberg lit up at SXSW over Barack Obama’s podcast quip that aliens are “real,” joking it was the perfect promo for his upcoming UFO film.

“When President Obama made that comment, I thought, 'Oh my God, this is so great for Disclosure Day,’” he said, per Variety. “This is amazing!"

Despite his belief in aliens, President Obama did clarify that nothing is being kept in Area 51 and that no secret underground base exists. He also later clarified on Instagram that while the universe is so vast that the odds of life existing somewhere else are quite high, the enormous distances between solar systems make it unlikely that aliens have actually visited Earth.

He added that during his presidency, he never saw any evidence suggesting extraterrestrials had made contact with humanity. Steven Spielberg echoed the broader curiosity around the subject, noting that people should read more about unidentified aerial phenomena and the growing body of discussion around them.

While Spielberg gears up for his alien thriller, the movie itself promises a fresh spin on extraterrestrial encounters.

Disclosure Day set to blend thriller and wonder

Disclosure Day marks Steven Spielberg's bold return to extraterrestrial territory, echoing Close Encounters of the Third Kind with a modern twist on UAP encounters. The film follows a government whistleblower racing to expose hidden alien evidence amid bureaucratic cover-ups, blending high-stakes thriller elements with emotional family drama.

Penned by Spielberg's longtime collaborator David Koepp, it boasts heavyweights like Emily Blunt as the intrepid journalist. Production wrapped principal photography in late 2025, with IMAX filming capturing sweeping desert chases and tense D.C. boardrooms.

Universal Pictures eyes a June 12, 2026 release, positioning it as counterprogramming to Marvel dominance. Steven Spielberg’s remark perfectly captures his excitement as he gears up for Disclosure Day. The film’s blend of thriller tension and real-world UAP intrigue makes the comments feel like the perfect setup for his latest exploration of life beyond Earth.

What do you think about Steven Spielberg’s upcoming Disclosure Day? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Pratham Gurung

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra