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Josh O’Connor calls working with Steven Spielberg on the upcoming sci-fi thriller ‘Disclosure Day’ a true “pinch-me moment.” The British actor revealed earlier today that every aspect of making the film, releasing June 12, felt surreal and unforgettable. What started as a dream has become reality for one of this generation’s most sought-after dramatic talents.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Release Date: June 12, 2026 in theaters nationwide
- Director: Steven Spielberg making his 35th directorial feature
- Cast: Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt lead the ensemble
- Story: Based on David Koepp screenplay, answers questions from ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’
An ‘Unglamorous Hero’ on a Mission
O’Connor plays Daniel Kellner, a cybersecurity expert with extraordinary abilities and a mysterious connection to his co-star. The character is described as an everyday hero thrust into extraordinary circumstances. According to the actor, Daniel possesses “a very special talent or skill that he’s almost unaware of,” one that has developed over time and whose origins become crucial to the plot.
“I think I used the term ‘unglamorous hero,'” O’Connor explained in recent interviews. The character is your everyday guy who must adapt to survive, lacking the glamorous action movie polish audiences might expect. Yet his abilities are central to understanding the film’s mystery and his inexplicable bond with Emily Blunt’s character.
Josh O’Connor calls Spielberg’s Disclosure Day ‘a pinch-me moment’, releases June 12
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Script Secrecy Like Never Before
Spielberg took unprecedented measures to guard the screenplay’s secrets. When O’Connor first received the script while filming ‘Knives Out’ in the UK, a motorcycle courier arrived with the pages and returned the next morning to collect them. “That’s the first time that’s happened for me,” O’Connor said with a laugh. “It’s a very strange experience but it makes sense.”
The extreme secrecy reflects just how valuable Disclosure Day is to the studio and filmmaker. The script, penned by David Koepp, underwent multiple revisions. O’Connor initially learned only that the film revolves around two characters inexplicably drawn to each other, eventually revealing a larger story about government secrets, extraterrestrial contact, and whistleblowing.
| Detail | Information |
| Release Date | June 12, 2026 |
| Studio | Universal Pictures |
| Director | Steven Spielberg (35th feature) |
| Screenplay | David Koepp (based on Spielberg story) |
Spielberg Still ‘Has It’ at Sixty-Plus
O’Connor praised the legendary director’s energy and passion, noting that Spielberg hasn’t lost a step in his six-decade career. “He’s still so excited,” the actor gushed. “He’s still like a child. He’s inquisitive. He is excited about performance.” The atmosphere on set reflected this enthusiasm, with creative conversations happening nearly daily about scenes, emotions, and storytelling goals.
What impressed O’Connor most was Spielberg’s accessibility and availability despite running a massive production. “For someone who’s running a huge production like that, it’s miraculous,” he said. The director proved willing to discuss character development, emotional arcs, and technical details at any hour. O’Connor even received a late-night text from Spielberg offering brilliant direction for a difficult scene, a message meant for his wife that became the actor’s most treasured Spielberg anecdote yet.
Echoes of a Career-Defining Legacy
On his first day filming, O’Connor found himself on a backlot surrounded by the iconic visual language of classic Spielberg films. Dripping pipes, massive light beams, fog, and mist created an environment he instantly recognized from ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and other masterpieces. As Emily Blunt and O’Connor watched a cut of the film for the first time in March 2026, both were left in awe, according to the actor, struck by the emotional resonance and contemporary relevance.
O’Connor believes ‘Disclosure Day’ ranks among Spielberg’s greatest achievements. “It’s up there, in my opinion,” he stated confidently. The film reportedly answers questions raised by ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’, offering resolution to mysteries left hanging nearly 50 years after that film’s original release. The themes of communication, understanding, and hope ring particularly urgent in today’s turbulent world.
“Every aspect of making this film was like a pinch-me moment, including seeing it for the first time. It’s sort of a dream for anyone.”
— Josh O’Connor, Actor
Will Josh O’Connor’s Disclosure Day Performance Answer Your Burning Questions?
O’Connor’s journey from period dramas like ‘The Crown’ to blockbuster action sequences represents a bold career pivot. The actor admits he never imagined himself jumping onto moving trains or delivering high-octane sci-fi spectacle, yet ‘Disclosure Day’ offers fans exactly that. His character’s struggle to survive while exposing truth mirrors broader conversations about accountability, communication, and trust that dominate global discourse.
As audiences await June 12, one question looms: Can Spielberg’s latest deliver the magic that made ‘E.T.’ and ‘Jaws’ timeless classics? O’Connor is convinced it will. The actor’s genuine enthusiasm for his collaborator, his praise of the film’s emotional depth, and his assertion that it “feels relevant and needed right now” suggest Disclosure Day might become essential summer viewing that transcends typical popcorn entertainment. Will you experience it in theaters this June?
Sources
- Associated Press – Josh O’Connor discusses working with Spielberg on ‘Disclosure Day’ (April 29, 2026)
- Deadline Hollywood – Josh O’Connor reveals level of secrecy for ‘Disclosure Day’ production (April 29, 2026)
- Entertainment Weekly – Josh O’Connor reveals new clues about ‘Disclosure Day’ character (April 30, 2026)
