It is not E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or War of the Worlds, but in Disclosure Day, aliens are once again at the center of the story.
With a film career spanning some of the most iconic works in modern cinema, Steven Spielberg has indisputably become one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in history. From classics such as Jaws and Jurassic Park to his legacy in science fiction storytelling, he has built a career defined by high-impact cinema, now returning with Disclosure Day. Here, extraterrestrial life once again takes center stage in a story which blends suspense and emotion, showing that the director still has powerful stories to tell.
Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt) is a TV meteorologist whose life changes dramatically when she meets Daniel Kellner (Josh O’Connor,) a cybersecurity expert and whistleblower. Together, they uncover evidence of extraterrestrial life, putting themselves in danger as they become targets of Wardex, a secret organization led by Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth,) whose mission is to keep this truth hidden from the public. Set in a tense and unsettling atmosphere, Disclosure Day raises a central question: is humanity alone in the universe?
Filmed partly in New Jersey, the production takes advantage of the state’s film tax incentives, with locations standing in for Kansas, Missouri, and New Mexico. Stay tuned for more about Disclosure Day’s filming locations!
Kansas City, United States
Photo by @kodak_shootfilmKansas City serves as the main setting of the film, as Margaret works as a weather reporter at the fictional news station KCXE. To ground the story in realism, the production avoided building sets on soundstages and instead transformed a building at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark. The glass architecture of this public research university appears in the final sequence, where Margaret delivers a live broadcast.
For the scene in which Margaret’s report is picked up by global news, the production team filmed at the NBC News headquarters in 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York. This iconic skyscraper serves as the central hub for the network’s broadcasting operations and newsroom. To enhance realism, actual NBC employees also appeared in the scenes as background performers.
Missouri, United States
Photo by @kodak_shootfilmFor the recreation of Margaret’s childhood home in the Midwest, an actual warehouse in the Bronx was used. Unlike filming on a soundstage, the warehouse environment contributed to the lighting and texture of the scene, resulting in images that reflect Midwestern architecture. Production designer Adam Stockhausen drew inspiration from his own experiences growing up in the region, leaning on personal history to create an authentic and lived-in setting.
West Virginia, United States
Photo by @kodak_shootfilmWhile running from Wardex, Daniel and Jane hide in a rural farmhouse in West Virginia, although the tense moment was actually filmed at Foster Fields Farm in Morristown, New Jersey. This open-air museum allows visitors to experience farm life as it was over a century ago, with activities such as butter churning, cork cracking, and egg collecting.
The decrepit house where the characters take shelter was built specifically for the production, with the surrounding landscape creating logistical challenges for its construction. The nearby field where Daniel later takes a phone call was also filmed on location, incorporating visual elements from a convent setting in Mendham, New Jersey. Afterwards, the couple flee by car, with the action shifting to Dibbles Quarry in New York, where the vehicle is driven off a cliff to increase realism.
New Mexico, United States
Photo by @kodak_shootfilmAliens arrive in New Mexico during a nighttime sequence, every clip being actually created at an industrial site on Staten Island. Nearby, a rugged, moon-like landscape of rocks and uneven terrain provided the perfect backdrop to recreate New Mexico’s arid scenery.
