Netflix Acquires 'Somewhere Out There' With Shawn Levy Attached to Direct Sci-Fi Film

Published 05/09/2026, 2:40 PM CDT

Shawn Levy has once again held hands with Netflix for his new project, Somewhere Out There, a sci-fi flick sharing concepts with the Oscar-winning Arrival, which Levy also producedScience fiction projects still attract Hollywood’s attention, especially when the big studios and well-known filmmakers come together to tell new stories that are ambitious. Streaming services have poured more and more money into big-budget original films, and several named directors have been drawn to futuristic and emotional stories.

The upcoming Netflix sci-fi has already sparked major interest in Hollywood, especially for the director who is invested in this. 

Netflix’s next sci-fi commitment: Shawn Levy's Somewhere Out There

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The upcoming sci-fi film Somewhere Out There is already sparking curiosity for bringing in a director like Shawn Levy. The movie has just won a hot bidding war at Netflix. Levy will also produce the movie under his 21 Laps banner and is now set to help make the movie a hit. The film is described as an emotionally driven movie and will have its theatrical release on May 28, 2027. Levy commits to this project following his highly anticipated Ryan Gosling, Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Aaron Pierre starrer Star Wars: Starfighter. 

On the other hand, Levy is known for many blockbusters. He has helmed global box office hits Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Wolverine. It has made over USD 1.08 billion globally together. He has also been the executive producer of award-winning titles like Netflix hit show Stranger Things and All the Light We Cannot See

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Meanwhile, beyond the high-profile creative team, details about the film’s emotional sci-fi story have also started drawing attention. 

What is Somewhere Out There about?

Somewhere Out There is said to fall into the emotional sci-fi genre, and is described to be as emotional as Arrival, Denis Villeneuve’s alien encounter drama, which Shawn Levy produced. It might also be similar to The Adam Project, Levy’s 2022-dated, family-friendly time-travel adventure made by Netflix. Somewhere Out There's story revolves around a grieving father who, after losing his wife, sends out a message into the stars, and actually ends up receiving an answer from an unknown source out there. 

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This only reflects the director's longstanding history with Netflix. His production company, 21 Laps. has other Netflix projects in the works as well. This included Kay Cannon’s comedy film One Attempt Remaining, starring Jennifer Garner and John Cena. It also had Kevin Jukobowski’s adaptation of Evan S. Porter’s novel Dad Camp

The involvement of Levy as a director and the participation of Netflix ensure that Somewhere Out There might just become one of the biggest sci-fi films produced by the streaming service. The heartwarming nature of the plot and the talent behind the project have generated even more buzz about the film. The project is now expected to be closely monitored and directed before its 2027 release.

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Do you think Somewhere Out There can become Netflix’s next major sci-fi hit under Shawn Levy’s direction? Let us know in the comments. 

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Bias Sinha

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Bias Sinha is an entertainment writer at Netflix Junkie, where she dives into Hollywood and all things celebrity culture with a sharp, timely lens. Previously, she covered pop culture and wrote on NBA for The Times of India. With a double Master’s degree in English and Education, and over 7 years of experience across creative writing, editing, proofreading, and academic content, she blends structure with storytelling ease.

Edited By: Adiba Nizami

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