Spielberg's "Disclosure Day" pre-release Speculation

[jackfrostvc]

"People have a right to know the truth, it belongs to 7 billion people"
"If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?"
From the trailer

I think we've heard that before especially in recent times in UFOology haven't we.
ie the people have the right to know the truth and what seems to be and some what a play on the "Onthological shock" narrative.

rewatching the trailer I see all the key elements. Whistleblower, 7 billion people have a right to know, MIB like chases. Ontological shock type narrative. And of course UFO lore aspects like crop circles.

 

[jdog]

With all those cardinals, looks more like ornithological shock.

 

[Mendel]

"People have a right to know the truth, it belongs to 7 billion people"

Who are the 1 billion left out?

 

[Z.W. Wolf]

I've got a radical idea...

What if the movie turns out to be a mediocre, cynical, designed by committee, cash grab, that doesn't make a lick of sense and will just barely make enough money to cover expenses?

 

[jarlrmai]

It's just using the current UFO movement as free viral marketing.

 

[MrBurns]

From that trailer, I suspect it is going to be much more general-woo oriented and less UFO-centric than many had assumed.

That's the move anyway. Bio Robots or inter dimensional beings leave the most room for LIZ interpretation. The communities are hyped on many social media websites . The Hollywood insider spilling the goods is perfect. And makes the marketing a self full filling prophecy.

 

[Ann K]

Who are the 1 billion left out?

Skeptics.

 

[JMartJr]

"People have a right to know the truth, it belongs to 7 billion people"
"If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?"
From the trailer

I think we've heard that before especially in recent times in UFOology haven't we.
ie the people have the right to know the truth and what seems to be and some what a play on the "Onthological shock" narrative.

rewatching the trailer I see all the key elements. Whistleblower, 7 billion people have a right to know, MIB like chases. Ontological shock type narrative. And of course UFO lore aspects like crop circles.

But it also seems potentially filled with things like "animal familiars," speaking in tongues, telekinesis and the like. If it IS a UFO story, it looks like it won't be as much about nuts-and-bolts UFOs and aliens as Close Encounters or E.T. were, and is diving more into the "interdimensional noncorporeal spirit" UFO stuff. (I now wonder if the "they're not aliens at all, really, they're from another dimension" bit at the end of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might have been a hint that his thinking was going down that branch of the rabbit hole.)

PS-- Just rewatched the trailer. Conspicuous by their absence are any UFOs or aliens...

 

[JMartJr]

I've got a radical idea...

What if the movie turns out to be a mediocre, cynical, designed by committee, cash grab, that doesn't make a lick of sense and will just barely make enough money to cover expenses?

That seems to be the age we live in as far as Hollywood goes; if it was another creator behind it I would be more ready to suspect that. Since it is my old pal Steve, I suspect the film at least THINKS it has something to say. Of course, Shyamalan's "Signs" probably thought it did too...

I'd not be at all surprised if the marketing is a little bait a switchy to ride the wave of UFO disclosure, though...

 

[Calter]

Conspicuous by their absence are any UFOs or aliens...

Someone on reddit found a saucer in one of the screens in the scene with a lot of screens.


Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1po9kkc/we_got_a_saucer_in_disclosure_day/

(the middle arrow is the most convincing one, not sure why there's an arrow pointing at North Korea)

 

[Mendel]

Someone on reddit found a saucer in one of the screens in the scene with a lot of screens.

it's a drone, bro

I'm surprised they're marketing it a year in advance. The trailer still said "summer 2026".

 

[Calter]

That means it can release as early as January for the southern hemisphere

 

[Olena]

Hi. I tried to look for some information in New Age mythology, because they also "love" aliens. The only thing I could find that combined birds and aliens was the delusion of Michael Harner. The birds he mentions are blue jays. (And sorry for any mistakes. I use an online translator.)
Encyclopedia of new age beliefs / John Ankerberg and John Weldon. p548

Consider Michael Harner's first experience with shaman initiation—an experience that resulted in his becoming a shaman. He employed the sacred drug made from the ayahuasca plant or "soul vine":
I could make out large numbers of people with the heads of blue jays and the bodies of humans, not unlike the bird-headed gods of ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. At the same time, some energy-essence began to float from my chest.... Although I believed myself to be an atheist, I was completely certain that I was dying and that the bird-headed people had come to take my soul away....
Starting with my arms and legs, my body slowly began to feel like it was turning to solid concrete.
I could not move or speak. Gradually, as the numbness closed in on my chest, toward my heart, I tried to get my mouth to ask for help, to ask the Indians for an antidote. Try as I might, however, I could not marshal my abilities sufficiently to make a word. Simultaneously, my abdomen seemed to be turning to stone, and I had to make a tremendous effort to keep my heart beating. ...I was virtually certain that I was about to die....I was dying and therefore, [it was] "safe" [for me] to receive [new] revelations. These were the secrets reserved for the dying and the dead, I was informed. I could only very dimly perceive the givers of these thoughts: giant reptilian creatures. . . . I could only vaguely see them in what seemed to be gloomy, dark depth.
Then they projected a visual scene in front of me. First they showed me the planet earth as it was aeons ago. ... [They said] they had come to planet earth to escape their enemy.
The creatures then showed me how they had created life on the planet in order to hide within the multitudinous forms and thus disguise their presence....They were the true masters of humanity and the entire planet, they told me. We humans were but the receptacles and ser-
vants of these creatures. .. .
I knew I had only a moment more to live. Strangely, I had no fear of the bird-headed people; they were welcome to have my soul if they could keep it....
[Later] I began to struggle against returning to the ancient ones, who were beginning to feel increasingly alien and possibly evil. . . .
I frantically tried to conjure up a power being to protect me against the alien reptilian creatures.
One appeared before me; and at that moment the Indians forced my mouth open and poured
the antidote into me (142:4-6).

 

[Ann K]

I'm surprised they're marketing it a year in advance. The trailer still said "summer 2026".

Doesn't that mean it's not really finished yet? I wonder if people's reaction to the trailer will feed into the final product.

 

[Mendel]

Doesn't that mean it's not really finished yet? I wonder if people's reaction to the trailer will feed into the final product.

I expect they're still working on the CGI. Which would explain the absence of UFOs and aliens in the trailer.

Shooting wrapped up in April, soundtrack is being composed.

I misinterpreted the date, though, because it said 06.12.26, when it means 06/12/26.

 

[Mick West]

Someone on reddit found a saucer in one of the screens in the scene with a lot of screens.

Looks very much like something from one of Spielberg's earlier movies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

 

[jarlrmai]

Is there any origin on the whole "Hollywood getting us ready for disclosure" meme that is common in UFO circles when they talk about aliens in movies?

 

[JMartJr]

I expect they're still working on the CGI. Which would explain the absence of UFOs and aliens in the trailer.

That's certainly possible... though releasing trailers with really bad "work in progress" VFX / CGI is now pretty common... Spielberg would have the clout to resist that if he so chose, I am sure.

 

[Ann K]

I misinterpreted the date, though, because it said 06.12.26, when it means 06/12/26.

Yes. We had someone who came over from England to work at the company, and I had to alter some programs to display "June 6" with the name of the month in text so there was no cross-Atlantic misinterpretation.

 

[jarlrmai]

It's fairly standard for human read dates to use a text for the month i tend to use them here as well to avoid transatlantic confusion

 

[Mick West]

Is there any origin on the whole "Hollywood getting us ready for disclosure" meme that is common in UFO circles when they talk about aliens in movies?

It's part of the broader "predictive programming" conspiracy theory, often attributed to Alan Watt, although as he himself notes, the idea is old.

Article:

High drama with emotion plus crisis situation in a movie and drama is a tremendous method of getting points across. It's almost like coupling an idea with the drama and it's downloaded like a virus into your subconscious and you're being programmed and it's called "predictive programming."

Source: https://www.cuttingthroughthematrix.com/transcripts/Alan_Watt_Blurb_PredictiveProgramming_PART1_Nov232006.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

[John J.]

...not sure why there's an arrow pointing at North Korea

North Korean soldiers apparently feature in the film.
Project Casting website, https://projectcasting.com/job/spielbergs-non-view-starring-emily-blunt-casting-call-for-soldiers

Spielberg's 'NON-VIEW' Starring Emily Blunt Casting Call for Soldiers

Grant Wilfley Casting New York, United States March 27, 2025 $$
North Korean Soldiers – Feature Film Casting Call

Job Description
A major feature film is casting background actors to portray North Korean soldiers. This is a paid opportunity for performers local to the New Jersey and New York area. The production is seeking talent who can authentically represent North Korean military personnel for a scheduled shoot in May.

 

[Mick West]

North Korean soldiers apparently feature in the film.

There are a lot of clues in the video wall. This is one of the more significant one. I'm thinking aliens save the world from itself (with the help of some good folk and animals)

 

[flarkey]

View attachment 87172

Looks very much like something from one of Spielberg's earlier movies, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Its the Turkey Kumburgaz UFO!

Finally my theory was it that its a TV screen has been proven correct. Thank you Mr Spielberg!

 

[RobertBillyBob]

I'm thinking aliens save the world from itself

Could be the usual "UFOs are disabling nukes" to stop world war 3.

 

[jdog]

Its the Turkey Kumburgaz UFO!


Finally my theory was it that its a TV screen has been proven correct. Thank you Mr Spielberg!

If a lot of those are actual lore images, I'm just boggled by the work it might have taken to clear the usage rights.

 

[purpleivan]

There are a lot of clues in the video wall. This is one of the more significant one. I'm thinking aliens save the world from itself (with the help of some good folk and animals)

Is that from the video wall, or a Christmas card?
Maybe the MiB are chasing Santa Claus and the aliens help him out... saving Christmas.

 

[Mick West]

Is that from the video wall, or a Christmas card?

It's an actual shot from the trailer. The last one.

 

[Z.W. Wolf]

That seems to be the age we live in as far as Hollywood goes; if it was another creator behind it I would be more ready to suspect that. Since it is my old pal Steve, I suspect the film at least THINKS it has something to say. Of course, Shyamalan's "Signs" probably thought it did too...

I'd not be at all surprised if the marketing is a little bait a switchy to ride the wave of UFO disclosure, though...

Don't want to be cruel but...


Jurassic World: Rebirth
Written by David Koepp

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Co-writer David Koepp

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Director Steven Spielberg
Screenplay David Koepp

Disclosure Day
Director Steven Spielberg
Written by David Koepp and Steven Spielberg

 

[Z.W. Wolf]

Woodland Critter Christmas?

 

[RTM]

Steven Greenstreet pointed out that image looked like. Coca Cola Christmas ad. Hard to disagree.

 

[NorCal Dave]

Good Lord! One looks back at the original CE3K, the original Raiders of the Lost Ark, even lesser works like Hook and sees some good stuff. IF this shot is any indication, it seems to be following what's become the current standard in Hollywood lately. Maybe even for someone of Spielberg's stature, there is pressure to return to a proven known commodity and, if not copy it, blend it with other known commodities to create a viable product.

Think about it, 30+ years after his original Jurassic Park, he often is still cranking out ever more sequels as the Executive Producer. After giving Indie his swan song with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade(1989), he had to come back almost 20 years later and bring him back with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls, before Executive Producing Indie's final humiliation and emasculation in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The trick is to just keep flogging a character or idea until it no longer works.

ET and CE3K never had sequels or reboots, but take those themes and plots, add in a bit of live action adaptations of Brother Bear or Ice Age or even Bambi, and that sounds like modern Hollywood.

 

[John J.]

Woodland Critter Christmas?

It does look a bit Disneyesque.

Steven Greenstreet pointed out that image looked like. Coca Cola Christmas ad. Hard to disagree.

Perhaps a bit weirdly, it made me think of the works of Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light (TM); it looks a bit kitsch. I'm disappointed that the filmmakers denied us the fun of including a turkey.

Mayne Emily Blunt's character misunderstood an invite to a stag party?

On a more serious note, I like animals, pretty much all animals, but as an adult the portrayal of animals as having agency and acting in an intelligent manner to intervene in human affairs leaves me cold. If (supposition) the critters are being steered by some sort of alien influence, that leaves me cold and (imagining myself in the world of the film) deeply suspicious. How could we ever trust our furry and feathered kin again?
I might not have such a grouchy attitude if a film with a similar idea was aimed at kids, but Disclosure Day probably isn't that film.

 

[enilc]

On a more serious note, I like animals, pretty much all animals, but as an adult the portrayal of animals as having agency and acting in an intelligent manner to intervene in human affairs leaves me cold. If (supposition) the critters are being steered by some sort of alien influence, that leaves me cold and (imagining myself in the world of the film) deeply suspicious. How could we ever trust our furry and feathered kin again?
I might not have such a grouchy attitude if a film with a similar idea was aimed at kids, but Disclosure Day probably isn't that film.

The vibe I get is more along the lines of the aliens assuming the form of non-human animals in order to observe humans without the risk of being discovered. The "animals" that intervene to save the humans are actually aliens in disguise.

As an aside: At what point does this forum "pump the brakes" and ask whether debunking a Hollywood movie (that is obviously not passing itself as any sort of documentary) relevant to the spirit of the site? Is this becoming a movie review site?

 

[jarlrmai]

4 of the top threads on r/ufos are about this movie.

 

[Mendel]

As an aside: At what point does this forum "pump the brakes" and ask whether debunking a Hollywood movie (that is obviously not passing itself as any sort of documentary) relevant to the spirit of the site? Is this becoming a movie review site?

1) It wasn't clear at first what kind of movie this would be. It's still useful to people who want to find out.

2) UFOlogy is greatly influenced by pop culture, and a high profile film marketed to UFO believers is going to shape what people think is real.

3) We're not a movie review site just because we talk about a bunk-related movie once in a while.

4) "The Age of Disclosure" passed itself off as a documentary, but wasn't.

 

[Montauk]

Disclosure Day
Director Steven Spielberg
Written by David Koepp and Steven Spielberg

Actually, only Koepp wrote the screenplay. Spielberg wrote a 50-page treatment before handing it off to Koepp for full scripting, with Koepp telling a reporter from DEADLINE that "He [Spielberg] was as involved as I've ever seen him on any movie I've written for him to direct."

And in balance, Koepp, along with those not so great movies you listed, recently wrote Steven Soderbergh's "Black Bag" and "Presence", which I quite liked, especially the former.

And, y'know, Jurassic Park, Carlito's Way, Panic Room....

 

[Montauk]

3) We're not a movie review site just because we talk about a bunk-related movie once in a while.

Damn, and I thought I'd be a good Gene Siskel.

 

[Montauk]

Since it is my old pal Steve, I suspect the film at least THINKS it has something to say.

I'm of the opinion that his last great film was the underrated Munich (which had quite a bit to say imo) but who knows, maybe he could surprise us.

 

[NorCal Dave]

It's part of the broader "predictive programming" conspiracy theory, often attributed to Alan Watt, although as he himself notes, the idea is old.

My bad, at first I confused "Alan Watt" with "Alan Watts". While the names are similar, their philosophies, not so much. Reading the first few lines of the linked post by Watt (no S) seemed reasonable, though not exactly something Watts might have written. Especially as Watts passed in '73. Further reading of the blog post by Watt quickly ventured into conspiratorial waters.

OT: Just for fun, my wife loves listening to talks by Alan Watts, something we first heard on this track by Tober and Tober. It's a fun take on Watts idea of reality being a construct of how we describe it, with an EDM groove:


Source: https://youtu.be/c7S0_5Fxf4k?si=3PQUjt5utK542oUw