- Film Release: Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day is currently in theaters.
- Thematic Focus: The film emphasizes humanity rather than an alien threat, leading to mixed reactions.
- Cast Opinions: Key actors express interest in a sequel, despite the film’s self-contained story.
- Ending Impact: A sequel could diminish the original film’s powerful conclusion.
Steven Spielberg‘s Disclosure Day is out in theaters now. The film’s abrupt ending is the source of criticism, but a Disclosure Day 2 would be a big mistake if one is made.
Disclosure Day explores more of humanity than that of an actual alien threat, and the film has divided many people. This fits with the entire movie’s theme. The movie is led by Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, and more. Based on a story by Spielberg, the script for Disclosure Day was written by David Koepp, who previously worked with the Jaws director on films such as Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, several stars from the film opened up about a potential sequel. Both Colin Firth and Colman Domingo said they’d like to see more from the world, and their characters specifically. Josh O’Connor also said he’s open to the idea of a sequel, even if the movie tells a succinct story on its own, and Blunt echoed the thoughts.
Disclosure Day 2 would only make the original’s ending less powerful
Although fans of the movie may want to see a sequel, it would be silly to do so. Not only would it be an odd move given Steven Spielberg’s resume (he’s only made four sequels in his history), but it would also undermine the original film’s ending. The movie’s ending, which some found abrupt and divisive, actually ends on a strong note, and one that would only be further stripped away if Spielberg and co. decided to come back for another.
For those unaware, Disclosure Day follows a group of whistleblowers trying to reveal the existence of aliens to the world. As a group known as Wardex (led by Colin Firth) tries to stop them, Dr. Daniel Kellner (O’Connor) and Margaret Fairchild (Blunt) come to find out that, as children, aliens visited them and imbued them with special characteristics in the hope that one day they would help disclose their existence.
Without getting into it too much, the movie ends with “disclosure day” happening. The whistleblowers broadcast a series of revealing videos live across the news, with humanity all reacting in stunned silence across the world. The abrupt ending comes as an alien is wheeled into the room and relays a message to Daniel, who then tells it to Margaret. The movie comes to with Margaret revealing the message from the alien to the world: “Listen.”
For many, the ending was an abrupt one. However, the movie ends on a potentially hopeful note, one that sees humanity slowly coming to terms with its place in the universe. The hope, as the movie expresses, is that humanity will come together in a way it hasn’t before and instead of massive divisiveness will embrace one another in shared empathy as is the desire of some of the characters in the movie as well as extraterrestrial life.
While a sequel to this would be fun to see, it would also undermine many of the points of the movie. Exploring the effect alien life has on the planet or what future characters do or don’t do would either reinforce the original story’s theme in an unnecessary way or simply make the first movie lose its impact. It’s unlikely Spielberg comes back for another movie anyway but here’s hoping the director instead chooses to leave the movie’s world on the note it did.
