There are only a handful of filmmakers working today who can generate such widespread interest and excitement with news of their next project, and Steven Spielberg is most definitely one of them
There's been speculation about the legendary director's next film ever since rumors did the rounds that he might be taking a long break (or possibly even retiring) after the release of The Fablemans, but according to Variety, Spielberg's latest is already in the early planning stages.
Details are few and far between, but the trade reports that he intends to return to the sci-fi genre for an untitled "UFO movie" that's based on his own original idea. The screenplay will be written by David Koepp, who has previously collaborated with Spielberg on Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Variety's piece also mentions that one of Spielberg's peers, Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon, Goodfellas), is now planning to shoot two films back to back: the first is his adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s 1973 book Life of Jesus, which may end up starring Andrew Garfield and Miles Teller, and the second is a Frank Sinatra biopic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence eyed to play the leads.
For a while after the release of what arguably remains his most iconic film, Jaws, Spielberg was pretty much synonymous with the sci-fi genre, helming the likes of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and later A.I., Minority Report and War of the Worlds. His last sci-fi film was Ready Player One, which was (mostly) positively reviewed, but was seen as something of a disappointment when it comes to global box office takings (just over $600 million).
With this in mind, there's bound to be a lot of hype and speculation surrounding this mysterious movie, so be sure to keep an eye on SFFGazette.com for updates.
What do you make of this news? Excited about Spielberg's return to the sci-fi genre? Drop us a comment down below.
"In 2045 the planet is on the brink of chaos and collapse, but people find salvation in the OASIS: an expansive virtual reality universe created by eccentric James Halliday. When Halliday dies, he promises his immense fortune to the first person to discover a digital Easter egg that's hidden somewhere in the OASIS. When young Wade Watts joins the contest, he finds himself becoming an unlikely hero in a reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical world of mystery, discovery and danger."