Steven Spielberg’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Disclosure Day is already making headlines, but not just for its alien plot. The set of the film had an unexpected VIP guest – former US President Barack Obama – and the cast is still recovering from the shock.
When Barack Obama walked onto the Disclosure Day set
Spielberg, 79, first revealed Obama’s surprise visit during a chat on Michelle Obama’s podcast ‘IMO’, joking that his friend threatened to watch the film vertically on his iPhone if he wasn’t among the first to see it. But when the 64-year-old ex-president actually showed up on set, it was a different story altogether.
“Of course, for my cast, it was a bit of a religious experience because in walks this iconic president who comes onto our set,” Spielberg said. “To me, he’s a good friend, but on the set, the kids didn’t know Barack except from what he’s done for the world and who he represents. I have a very extroverted cast; you could hear a pin drop when he walked in. They didn’t know what to say.”
Co-star Eve Hewson, who plays romantic lead Jane opposite Josh O’Connor’s Daniel, confirmed the jaw-dropping moment at the film’s New York premiere. “I just showed up to work nervous to do my scene, and then there was the Secret Service, and then Obama showed up,” the Irish actress recalled. “Imagine your scariest day at work, and then Obama comes to watch you. It was insane, but also probably the most extraordinary experience I’ll ever have in my life, and I will always cherish it.”
Hewson appears alongside Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo and Wyatt Russell in the film, which follows a reporter trying to expose the existence of non-human intelligent life on Earth. Obama himself has weighed in on alien life before, saying in an Instagram post that while the universe is vast enough for life, he saw no evidence during his presidency.
CBFC cuts sex and f**k from Spielberg’s film
While the cast was starstruck by Obama, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had its own reaction to Disclosure Day – a few cuts. According to industry sources, the board muted the word ‘sex’ in a dialogue where Jane tells Daniel that they’ve already slept together, given her past as a nun. The word ‘f**k’ was also muted twice.
The film received a U/A 13+ certificate on June 11 after the modifications. Running at 145 minutes and 36 seconds, Disclosure Day opened worldwide at USD 27.6 million, with an India opening around Rs 1.75-2 crore. Not bad for a niche sci-fi drama competing with holdover releases.
Spielberg reunites with screenwriter David Koepp (their fifth collaboration after Jurassic Park) and composer John Williams (their 30th film together). The story follows a Kansas City reporter and a cybersecurity specialist who cross paths amid global chaos.
Other news from the week: Drishyam 3, Bharathiraja, Saiee M Manjrekar, and MIFF
In Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal’s Drishyam 3 continues its slow but steady run, crossing Rs 236.89 crore worldwide by Day 22. The India net stands at Rs 107.96 crore, with international territories adding Rs 111.65 crore. The film’s occupancy slipped to 8.13% across 665 shows, but the franchise’s loyal fanbase keeps it afloat.
Tamil cinema mourned the loss of veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja, who passed away on June 10. Known as “Iyakkunar Imayam,” he was celebrated for realistic rural dramas and nurturing talents like Vijay, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan, who paid tribute at his Chennai residence.
On the personal front, actor Saiee M Manjrekar opened up about her upcoming romantic horror Ikaai, calling it one of the most challenging roles of her career. “I learned that sometimes silence, vulnerability, and emotional stillness can be far more powerful than dramatic expression,” she shared. The film, headlined by Raghav Juyal, is a psychological horror that kept her emotionally exposed.
Meanwhile, Mumbai gears up for the 19th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) in the third week of June, featuring over 1400 documentaries, shorts, animation films, and a first-ever AI-powered filmmaking challenge.