Universal Pictures has dated an “untitled event film” directed by Steven Spielberg for a wide release on Friday, May 15, 2026. The story will be by Spielberg and the screenplay by his frequent collaborator David Koepp.
While no details beyond that are being shared at present, Variety reported last month that Spielberg’s next project will “likely” be “a UFO film based on his own original idea” and written by Koepp. The May 2026 release is Spielberg’s original idea as written by Koepp, and a Spielberg UFO film would surely be an event film.
When reached by IndieWire, a spokesperson for Universal Pictures declined comment on the UFO detail.
Of course, most Spielberg films are event films, and many of them have been written by Koepp, including: “Jurassic Park,” “The Lost World: Jurassic Park,” “War of the Worlds” (a UFO film!), and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Combined, those titles have earned more than $3 billion worldwide.
In 2022, IndieWire (and others) reported that Spielberg was working on a Frank Bullitt biopic. Bradley Cooper was later set to star as Bullitt, the character made famous from the 1968 Steve McQueen thriller. That one was set at Warner Bros. with Spielberg set to direct from a screenplay by Josh Singer. It was intended to be a completely original story, not a remake of the original “Bullitt” movie by Peter Yates. Cooper and Spielberg were set to produce with Kristie Macosko Krieger; the same trio produced Netflix’s “Maestro.” McQueen’s son Chad and his granddaughter Molly were named as executive producers.
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Pictures did not immediately respond to IndieWire’s request for an update on the status of the Bullitt film.
Spielberg is a three-time Oscar winner: Best Director and Best Picture for “Schindler’s List and Best Director for “Saving Private Ryan.” His most recent film, the fairly autobiographical “The Fabelmans,” was also released by Universal. It was nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, and four other awards, though it did not win any. Spielberg wrote that one with Tony Kushner.
