John Williams and Steven Spielberg are reuniting for a new movie – something that will be their 30th collaboration together.
Williams, now 93, started his career as an orchestrator for film studios and then a session musician and jazz pianist, before going on to compose the music for several of the biggest movies and franchises in history. He has received 54 Oscar nominations, with five wins.
With Spielberg, he’s worked on several iconic scores including ones for Jaws, Jurassic Park and the Indiana Jones films.
Now, it’s been reported that Williams is coming out of retirement to work on Spielberg’s next film, which is as yet untitled but scheduled to hit cinemas in 2026.
As per Variety, Juilliard School president Damian Woetzel confirmed the news during an event that celebrated Williams that was hosted on Monday (October 27).
At John Williams – A Composer’s Life: A Night of Stories and Music, Woetzel said: “John Williams, who is in Los Angeles doing what he does, […] is working with Steven Spielberg on the next movie. And that is something to be happy about,” Woetzel told the audience, as per journalist journalist Doug Adams.
Damian Woetzel (president of Juilliard)
“The catalyst is John Williams, who is in Los Angeles doing what he does: he is working with Steven Spielberg on the next movie. And that is something to be happy about.”— Doug Adams (@DougAdamsMusic) October 28, 2025
Little is known about the film, but Universal Pictures, who are releasing the project next June, have previously described it as a “new original event film.” It is reportedly about UFOs.
The cast includes Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colman Domingo, Colin Firth and Eve Hewson.
Despite having had a career that spans over seven decades, Williams confirmed last year that he was not retiring, after previously suggesting that James Mangold’s Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, the fifth instalment in the franchise, could be his last film.
Last year, a documentary titled Music By John Williams – which was a deep-dive into the life and career of the man behind some of cinema’s most iconic scores – was released in which Spielberg and other leading directors celebrated Williams.
Speaking of Williams’ work in the documentary, Spielberg said: “After he does music for my movie, I start to see my movie in his way. It’s the purest form of art I’ve ever experienced from any human being.”
He was also praised by Star Wars director George Lucas, who said: “Star Wars basically would not be Star Wars without John Williams’ music.”
Meanwhile back in 2021, Williams was voted the ‘most popular living composer’.