A new documentary series is about to explore four different kinds of close encounters.
According to Deadline, Amblin Television has teamed up with Boardwalk Pictures to produce Encounters, the new four-part series that investigates a different phenomenon in each episode.
These include strange lights in the sky over Texas, claims of submersible UFOs haunting a coastal Welsh village, an alien encounter in Zimbabwe, and reports of a “non-human intelligence” at a nuclear power plant in Japan.
Encounters is directed by Yon Motskin, who will explore these strange tales from the perspective of those who experienced them firsthand. The show is reportedly guided by scientists and military personnel who aim to get to the bottom of these strange phenomena, as well as highlight the personal impact of these encounters on locals, families, and communities who experienced them.
Spielberg may not be directly involved but it’s interesting that the series is coming from Amblin. Of course, the filmmaker has a long history with alien encounters, directing Close Encounters of the Third Kind as well as producing Taken, the 2002 miniseries about alien abductions.
The new documentary series comes at an interesting time, too. Over the last few weeks, a number of reports from former U.S. military personnel seemingly confirm the government's involvement in UFO cover-ups and secretive Pentagon programs. In fact, an explosive congressional hearing a few weeks ago alleged that the U.S. government knows a lot more about UFOs and alien encounters than they’re letting on.
“The sheer number of reports, whistleblowers, and stories of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena should raise real questions and warrant investigation and oversight. And that’s why we are here today,” said Rep. Robert Garcia. “[UAPs], whatever they may be, may pose a serious threat to our military or civilian aircraft. And that must be understood.”
Encounters will debut on Netflix on September 27.
Want to read more about UFOs? Check out how UFO reports more than doubled last year and get all the details from the US government’s biggest unclassified UFO report to date.
Image credit: Chris Clor / Getty Images Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
