In a revealing interview on Entertainment Weekly's The Awardist podcast in November 2025, Emily Blunt shared the emotional story of how she landed the lead role in Steven Spielberg's upcoming UFO thriller Disclosure Day.
"It was very goose-bumpy when he called. He kind of just said, 'We want you to play this part.'"
Blunt, who has remained characteristically tight-lipped about plot details, did offer one telling description of her relationship with the legendary director: she called Spielberg her "movie dad."
No Audition Required
Like her co-star Josh O'Connor, Blunt was offered her role without having to audition — a testament to Spielberg's certainty about his casting choices. The director reportedly worked on the story treatment for years before approaching any actors, knowing exactly who he wanted for each role.
Blunt plays a Kansas City meteorologist whose live broadcast is interrupted by something otherworldly. The teaser trailer shows her character seemingly possessed, speaking in an unknown language of clicks while delivering a weather report.
Genre-Defining Performances
The role marks Blunt's latest entry into science fiction, following career-defining turns in A Quiet Place (2018) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014). In previous interviews, Blunt has discussed how A Quiet Place redefined her approach to genre films — working within constraints to create something emotionally resonant.
That approach seems perfectly aligned with Spielberg's philosophy on UFO films: using the extraordinary to explore deeply human emotions.
The "Movie Dad" Connection
Blunt's description of Spielberg as her "movie dad" speaks to a broader pattern. Spielberg has long been known for creating familial environments on set, and his collaborators often describe working with him in deeply personal terms.
John Williams, who came out of retirement at 93 to score Disclosure Day, has called Spielberg his closest creative partner. Cinematographer Janusz Kamiński has shot nearly every Spielberg film since Schindler's List. Producer Kristie Macosko Krieger has been by his side for 27 years.
Now Emily Blunt joins that inner circle.
Sources
Entertainment Weekly — The Awardist Podcast (November 2025)
Disclosure Day opens in theaters and IMAX on June 12, 2026.
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