Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleSteven Spielberg's new sci-fi film, Disclosure Day, has been released, featuring Emily Blunt and Josh O'Connor uncovering a widespread conspiracy regarding alien existence. Despite fan speculation following the trailer, Spielberg has clarified that Disclosure Day is not a sequel to his 1977 classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, stating there is no literal connection. Spielberg highlighted a key difference between the films' conspiracies: Close Encounters depicted governments hiding alien life, whereas Disclosure Day focuses on a "deep state contracting company" being responsible for the cover-up, reflecting his belief that big tech companies, not governments, hold such secrets. Both films were inspired by Spielberg's long-standing fascination with extraterrestrial life, with Disclosure Day specifically drawing research from the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence's 2023 hearings on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) sightings. Spielberg recently expressed optimism that humanity will discover whether "there is life beyond Earth" within his lifetime, stating his view has become more realistic and hopeful about such discoveries. In fullSteven Spielberg bluntly addresses theory that Disclosure Day is Close Encounters sequelThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in