Legendary composer John Williams is reuniting with director Steven Spielberg for their 30th collaboration, scoring the upcoming UFO event movie set for release in June 2026. The confirmation came from Juilliard School President Damian Woetzel during a recent event honoring Williams. At 93, Williams continues to defy retirement rumors with this secretive Universal Pictures project.
Steven Spielberg and John Williams have one of the most storied partnerships in film history, collaborating on classics like Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, and most recently, Spielberg's 2022 semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans. Their next joint effort marks the 30th time Williams will provide the score, this time for an untitled UFO adventure film from Universal Pictures.
Confirmation and Background
The news broke during the Juilliard School's event 'John Williams – A Composer’s Life: A Night of Stories and Music' on October 28, 2025. President Damian Woetzel shared, 'The catalyst [for the event] is John Williams, who is in Los Angeles doing what he does: he is working with Steven Spielberg on the next movie. And that is something to be happy about.' Journalist Doug Adams relayed the details from the gathering.
Williams, now 93, had hinted at retirement after scoring Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023, but he later clarified he might return for compelling projects. 'I don’t care much for grand pronunciamentos,' he told The Times UK. This UFO film, described as a 'new original event film,' aligns with Spielberg's history of blending spectacle and emotion in sci-fi tales.
Production Details
The screenplay is by David Koepp, who previously worked with Spielberg on Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The ensemble cast includes Josh O'Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson. While plot specifics remain under wraps, the film is slated for a June 2026 theatrical release, positioning it as a potential summer blockbuster.
This collaboration underscores the enduring creative synergy between the duo, promising a score that could elevate the film's mysterious UFO narrative to iconic status.