Hollywood often rewards patience and persistence, but sometimes, it’s just about being at the right place at the right time — even if that place is not the Met Gala. While A-listers paraded their designer glam on the red carpet, actor Josh O’Connor was on a different kind of high-profile mission in New York. The night of the Met Gala 2024, he got the text. Not from a stylist, not from a gossip columnist — but from his agent:
“Can you meet Steven Spielberg tomorrow for coffee?”
And just like that, O’Connor was on his way to Amblin Entertainment to sit across from the legendary director who brought us E.T., Jurassic Park, and Schindler’s List. The kicker? There wasn’t even a script yet. Just a story. Spielberg told it over coffee and asked:
“Would you like to do it?”
O’Connor later told Deadline with a grin, “I sort of feigned, ‘Let me think about it.’ But obviously…”
Obviously, yes.
A Leap from “Challengers” to the Cosmos
Fresh off his buzzworthy turn in Challengers, O’Connor now steps into what insiders are calling a “new original event film” from Steven Spielberg — reportedly titled “The Dish”. Scheduled for release on May 15, 2026, this top-secret project marks Spielberg’s grand return to the genre that defined his career: the cosmic and the unexplained.
Though plot details remain under tight wraps, word on the inside suggests a “UFO” storyline is in play. The production has already kicked off in New Jersey and Atlanta, and it’s expected to be a two-hander — a film that revolves primarily around the dynamic between two characters. With O’Connor at the center, the expectations are stratospheric.
He stars alongside a dazzling cast: Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson — each powerhouse performers in their own right. But make no mistake: this is a major spotlight moment for O’Connor, who is stepping out of indie and prestige circles into the realm of full-blown cinematic spectacle.
Spielberg Returns to Big Ideas — With a New Muse
For Spielberg, The Dish marks a turn away from the deeply personal lens of The Fabelmans and back into high-concept, awe-inducing storytelling. And interestingly, the script is penned by David Koepp, not his usual collaborator Tony Kushner. Koepp, known for scripting Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, and Mission: Impossible, is no stranger to cinematic thrill rides.
That shift is no accident. Spielberg appears to be revving up for something bold, imaginative, and potentially otherworldly — the kind of film that feels like Spielberg of the ’80s and ’90s, but with the maturity and scale of modern cinema.
And Josh O’Connor? He might just be Spielberg’s next muse.
“He Whispers Like an Excited Child”
When asked what it was like sitting with Spielberg, O’Connor’s admiration was palpable:
“He’s just the most special person. He seems to have the most incredible amount of energy I’ve ever witnessed. He comes up to you, he whispers in your ear like an excited child about an idea, a thought, and it’s truly inspiring.”
It’s the kind of anecdote that belongs in movie lore — or at least in the dream diary of every actor trying to break into the upper echelons of Hollywood.
O’Connor didn’t reveal much else — no spoilers, not even a hint as to whether he plays a human or something… less terrestrial. With a sly smile, he teased, “Maybe I’m an alien… maybe I’m not.” The secrecy only fuels the anticipation.
What This Means for Josh O’Connor
This Spielberg role is more than just a career highlight — it’s a full-on launchpad. O’Connor has long been respected for his gravitas and emotional nuance in projects like The Crown and God’s Own Country, but this is a leap into blockbuster territory.