New set photos fromSteven Spielberg’s upcoming UFO movie reveal the first look at Emily Blunt and Wyatt Russell’s characters. The untitled film, currently in production, isSpielberg’s first directorial projectsinceThe Fabelmans. With a screenplay byJurassic Parkco-writer David Koepp, it is being produced by Amblin Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is scheduled for release on August 18, 2025, following a slight delay from its original July 15, 2025 date. Plot and character details remain under wraps.
According toNJ.com,Spielberg was spotted on set in Montville, New Jersey, alongside Blunt and Russell.The images shared on their site show the two actors filming at a gas station, with Spielberg seen speaking to them in some shots. At two different points, Blunt and Russell were seen clasping each other’s arms. Continued filming is expected to take place in Woodbine, New Jersey in March, where production held an open casting call for background actors. In addition to Blunt and Russell, the cast includes Colman Domingo, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Josh O’Connor. To see the set images, clickhere.
What This Means For Spielberg’s Latest Sci-Fi Project
Few Details Have Been Revealed, But There Are Clues
Blunt’s involvement follows her Academy Award-nominated performance inOppenheimer.Blunt’s filmographyincludesA Quiet Placeand its sequel, as well asEdge of Tomorrow, both of which showcased her in high-concept sci-fi roles. Russell, known forThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier,Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and the upcomingThunderbolts*, adds another major project to his career with this film.Details of their specific roles are under wraps, but it seems, based on the images,they could be playing a couple.
Moreover, Spielberg’s return to the sci-fi genre is his first venture sinceWar of the Worlds, which was also written by Koepp.Their collaboration spans over 30 years, includingJurassic Park,The Lost World: Jurassic Park, andIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.Spielberg’s previous movieswith extraterrestrial narratives includeClose Encounters of the Third KindandE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, both of which became notorious works in the genre.
Production is utilizing multiple locations across New Jersey, bringing Spielberg back to a familiar area. His previous New Jersey-based productions includeWest Side Story, which was filmed in Paterson, andWar of the Worlds. Spielberg spent most of his childhood in the state, a detail touched on inThe Fabelmans.His decision to film in the stateseems to stem from a personal place, which could make his new movie even more emotionally resonant.
Our Take On Spielberg’s Return To Sci-Fi
Spielberg’s Movie Already Seems Very Promising
Spielberg directing another sci-fi film after two decades is a major development for his career, and it is cause for excitement. His past collaborations with Koepp have delivered some of the most commercially successful and culturally significant films of his career, and though we can’t see much from the new images, even just a small glimpse of the production is enticing. With Blunt and Russell leading a strong cast,Spielberg’s upcoming project has the potential to stand alongside his best sci-fi films.
