It’s Official: J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 is About Area 51, Will Team Up With Steven Spielberg

Despite a comment on our forums, I really didn’t see this coming. Some theaters had exclusive showings of Iron Man 2 for their employees and select people tonight at midnight, and the Super 8 teaser trailer was shown as well. After we confirmed that the secret film being produced by J.J. Abrams wasn’t affiliated with Cloverfield, the question remained as to its actual plot. Now we know. Find out the details after the break.

You may remember how last month reports came out that Abrams was teaming up with Steven Spielberg for a sci-fi project that paid homage to the Spielberg films of the 70s and 80s. It turns out Super 8 is that project. One of our forum members got to to see the teaser himself, and below is his account.

This IS the JJ Spielberg collaboration and it IS about Area 51 and the trailer is NOT shot on Super 8 but standard film. And there is no way the cast of the trailer was told they were filming a “sex comedy remake” because you don’t see a single person on screen the entire minute and 30 the trailer runs.

The trailer starts with Paramount then Bad Robot and immediately cuts to a train winding down tracks on a dark night. Wording comes up “In 1979 The United States Airforce closed a section if Area 51” A car collides with the train causing a MAJOR accident. “All materials were transported to a secure facility” More train carnage is shown. “Steven Spielberg Presents” From the mangled wreckage of the train we see a train-car with a hatch that reads United States Airforce. “Next Summer” bang Bang BANG “It Arrives” BANG!!! the hatch flies off and we follow it zooming out into the lens of a Super 8 camera. The title is revealed to be SUPER 8. cut to black.

With Paramount already planning to release Paranormal Activity director Oren Peli’s Area 51 later this year, I wouldn’t have expected ANOTHER movie about the infamous Nevada military base told through found footage. With a Summer 2011 release, that’s a pretty tight window between the two, especially when you consider how infrequently a movie comes out that is focused primarily on the base. The last movie I could find was 2002’s straight-to-DVD Groom Lake, directed by William Shatner.


That aside, I’m excited for this project, and I can’t wait to see the teaser myself. I love the topic of Area 51, and though there is potential for both films to be of the “found footage” style, it looks like Spielberg’s will have more cinematic qualities. Next, I hope there’s a viral campaign, especially considering Abrams’ involvement. There’s still at least a year before Super 8 comes out, so there’s plenty of time to start it up and do it right. What do you think? When you see the teaser yourself, let us know your thoughts.


Thanks to forum member “tdkfanjkr” for the info!