He doesn’t just make films about aliens, he believes in them too. Steven Spielberg says he has a “very strong suspicion” that humans are not alone. Speaking during a keynote conversation at the SXSW Film
& TV Festival in Austin on March 13, the filmmaker opened up about his long-standing belief in extraterrestrial life.
“I don’t know any more than any of you do, but I have a very strong suspicion that we are not alone here on Earth right now. I made a movie about that,” Spielberg said.
Steven Spielberg’s Remarks Come Amid Fresh Alien Buzz
The discussion around life beyond Earth has been picking up again, especially after former US President Barack Obama recently spoke about the possibility of aliens. Spielberg admitted that hearing those remarks instantly made him think about his upcoming project.
“Oh my God, this is so great for Disclosure Day,” he said.
Obama later clarified his stance, saying, “Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there.” Spielberg agreed with that broader view by stressing that it’s unrealistic to assume humans are the only intelligent beings.
“He stepped back to say what he believed was life in the cosmos, which, of course, everybody should believe in. No one should really think that we are the only intelligent civilisation in the entire universe,” Spielberg said.
“The big question is, are we alone now? And have we been alone over the last 80 years? Have we been alone over the last few thousand years?” he added.
A Curiosity That Began In Childhood
For Spielberg, this belief isn’t new. The director said his fascination with the unknown started when he was a child, long before it became a recurring theme in his films.
“When I was just a little kid, I remember developing a real curiosity about the sky at night and what’s happening up there, and also not the possibility but the guarantee that there is life off this planet,” he said.
Over the years, that curiosity shaped some of his most iconic works, including films that explore alien encounters and the mysteries of space.
Still Waiting For His Own Encounter
Despite making some of the most well-known alien films, Spielberg revealed he hasn’t experienced anything unusual himself. “I made a movie called Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” he said. “I haven’t even had a close encounter of the first or second kind! Why haven’t I seen anything? Half of my friends have seen UFOs or UAPs. Where’s the justice of that, if you’re listening out there?” he said playfully.
Disclosure Day Marks Steven Spielberg’s Return To UFO Stories
Spielberg is now revisiting the subject with his upcoming film Disclosure Day, his first UFO-focused project since Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The film is based on his original idea and written by David Koepp, with whom he has previously collaborated on Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The film features a cast including Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson and Colman Domingo. It is set to release in theatres on June 12 this year.
