Steven Spielberg‘s next sci-fi epic has received a major filming update, with actor Meredith Hagner revealing that production is ramping up and a Marvel star is officially joining the cast. The upcoming film, currently untitled, marks Spielberg’s return to the sci-fi genre with screenwriter and long-time collaborator David Koepp. The film is expected to harken back to Spielberg’s earlier movies, reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. Expected to star Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth, and Eve Hewson, Spielberg’s untitled movie is set to hit theaters in May 2026.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley for her latest film You’re Cordially Invited (now streaming on Prime Video), Hagner confirmed that her husband and Marvel star Wyatt Russell will join Steven Spielberg’s latest sci-fi epic. She also confirmed he begins filming this week, as this interview was conducted on January 29. It is unclear if Russell is joining a production that has been filming for some time now, or if the movie itself is starting. Hagner shared this information while explaining how Russell’s cameo in You’re Cordially Invited came to be. Her full answer is below:
It’s literally we trade off. So I’ll do a project, he’ll do a project, just kind of what’s coming both our ways, and this was my turn to work, and he was kind of holding it down with the babies, and I was like, ‘Babe, there’s this little cameo and the movie.’ And I think he was like, ‘Well, what’s the part?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, Mr. Hollywood needs to have the part [specified].’ I was like, ‘It’s my movie.’ Okay, my movie in addition to Reese and Will.
But I was like, ‘Just go. They need a person, and you’re in town, so just go.’ And I bullied him into it, and he was like, ‘What’s the part? And then he literally cut a mutton chop beard for it. He was like, ‘Okay, I’m the host of the thing.’ And then it’s literally one second, which makes me laugh so hard. He did mutton chops for this one second blink-you-miss cameo. He’s a very committed actor who’s literally going to work with Steven Spielberg next week and gave us one second of his time on this.
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Russell is best known for his role as John Walker in Marvel’s miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and is set to reprise his portrayal as the ex-Captain America in the upcoming MCU movie Thunderbolts*. Outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Russell has appeared in a variety of films and TV shows, including the sci-fi horror movie Overlord, Jon Favreau’s space western Cowboys & Aliens, and the Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. While the actor has officially joined the ensemble cast, Russell’s exact role in Spielberg’s UFO film remains undisclosed.
Notably, Spielberg hasn’t made a widely celebrated sci-fi blockbuster in some time. His last major effort in the genre was Ready Player One in 2018, which received mixed reactions. Before that, War of the Worlds in 2005 was his last significant sci-fi outing. However, Spielberg’s track record in the genre is legendary, with films like Minority Report and earlier classics like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. While the widely acclaimed The Fabelmans was a departure from the director’s usual blockbuster fare, Spielberg’s upcoming sci-fi project signifies his return to large-scale, high-spectacle filmmaking.
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Spielberg has a history of bringing out career-defining performances from his actors. Russell’s casting in Spielberg’s upcoming sci-fi project is a significant step forward for the actor, who has steadily built a reputation for his compelling performances in both genre and dramatic roles. While details of his character remain undisclosed, Russell’s ability to play both heroic and morally ambiguous figures makes him a perfect fit for a Spielberg sci-fi film. With his tense portrayal of John Walker, Russell has demonstrated he’s got the depth and complexity for Steven Spielberg‘s next blockbuster.
Steven Spielberg
- Birthdate
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December 18, 1946
- Birthplace
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Cincinnati, Ohio, USA