'Disclosure Day': For Spielberg, aliens are not just fiction
As Steven Spielberg releases a new film on extraterrestrials, here's a brief history of modern alien conspiracies and why scientists are now taking UFO reports
As Steven Spielberg releases a new film on extraterrestrials, here's a brief history of modern alien conspiracies and why scientists are now taking UFO reports seriously. Are we alone in this universe? Amid all the unanswered questions related to alien life, Steven Spielberg has more than any other filmmaker shaped the vision that humanity's first encounter with extraterrestrials could be a peaceful and profound experience — as opposed to a threatening invasion. Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) are iconic movies that fundamentally redefined the science fiction genre. Just like those films, "Disclosure Day" has been described by its lead star, Josh O'Connor, as "a film about hope and humanity and understanding," fitting right into the filmmaker's wondrous view on the phenomenon of extraterrestrial life. 'Overwhelming circumstantial evidence' In "Disclosure Day," O'Connor plays the role of a cybersecurity whistleblower who is determined to reveal the truth about aliens to the rest of the world. He joins forces with a Kansas City TV meteorologist (Emily Blunt), who is suddenly overcome by a mysterious extraterrestrial force during a live weather report. Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor star in 'Disclosure Day' Image: Universal Pictures - Amblin Entertainment/COLLECTION CHRISTOPHEL/picture alliance For Spielberg, even though the film will be labeled as science fiction, he doesn't see "Disclosure Day" as purely fictional: "It's much more reflective of the world as it is evolving and discoveries that are being made as we speak," he said in an interview with AP. "I've been a believer since I made 'Close Encounters' 50 years ago," Spielberg said, adding that with the "overwhelming circumstantial evidence" that has been gathered over the past decades, he even accepts that extraterrestrials have already attempted to establish contact with us.
As most sightings have been explained as natural phenomena or hoaxes, discussing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) has long been perceived as a fringe topic, fueled by conspiracy theories and pop culture. But in recent years, the scientific community has increasingly taken a data-driven, rigorous approach to studying what is now known as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). The film also reflects current debates about transparency, disinformation and the relationship between faith and science Image: Universal Pictures - Amblin Entertainment/COLLECTION CHRISTOPHEL/picture alliance As a longtime follower of reports of alleged alien encounters, Spielberg was inspired by the 2023 House Subcommittee on Security hearing on UAPs. One of the witnesses was former Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch. The whistleblower testified that the government was concealing a multi-decade UAP program that captures and reverse-engineers technological objects. The Pentagon has since released two massive batches of declassified UAP files; a third release is planned for the near future. While the documents do not provide evidence of alien spacecraft, alien bodies or a government reverse-engineering program, they do demonstrate that many sightings remain unresolved due to insufficient data. The files contain decades of reports, including a testimony by a senior US intelligence officer describing mysterious "orange orbs flaring up and down," as well as a video filmed by a US military drone over Syria in 2021, which suddenly accelerates as if going into warp speed before vanishing. Harvard scientist sees study of unexplained phenomena as a duty "I do think it's the obligation of scientists to pay attention to anomalies, especially if they are reported by reliable authorities," Avi Loeb, a prominent Harvard astrophysicist who advocates for the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence, told DW following the release of the second batch of Pentagon files in May.
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