Acclaimed actor Josh O'Connor has officially joined the cast of Steven Spielberg's upcoming film “The Dish,” marking another significant addition to an already stellar ensemble. The project, which features Emily Blunt in the central role, will also star Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson.
The film is scheduled to begin production in February, with filming locations set across New Jersey and Atlanta. Universal has already secured a release date of May 15, 2026, positioning it as Spielberg's first adult-oriented summer release since 2008's “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull” .
While plot details remain largely under wraps, we know that “The Dish” is based on an original story by Spielberg himself and involves UFO elements. The screenplay comes from David Koepp, Spielberg's longtime collaborator known for “Jurassic Park” . The project is described as a “two-hander” with Blunt taking the lead role.
O'Connor joins the project following his acclaimed performances in “The Crown” and more recently in Luca Guadagnino's “Challengers”. The film will be produced by Kristie Macosko Krieger, who previously worked with Spielberg on “Ready Player One” and “West Side Story”.
This new project follows Spielberg's 2022 release “The Fabelmans,” which received critical acclaim and won the Toronto audience award, and his 2021 adaptation of “West Side Story,” which earned seven Oscar nominations.
My opinion: The combination of Spielberg's storytelling prowess, a UFO-themed narrative, and this exceptional cast suggests we might be looking at another landmark sci-fi film. The project's summer release date indicates studio confidence in its commercial potential, unlike Spielberg's recent more personal films.
What are your thoughts on Spielberg returning to the sci-fi genre with a UFO-themed story, and how do you think this stellar cast will contribute to the film's success?
