Director Steven Spielberg has been fascinated by the sci-fi concepts surrounding UFOs and alien life for decades. Close Encounters of the Third Kind has been considered a genre classic since its release in 1977, and he even gave audiences his own take on War of the Worlds with the Tom Cruise-starring 2005 blockbuster. Spielberg has explored family-friendly aliens in 1982’s E.T., and even found a way to incorporate interdimensional beings into Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008. Each one has been a unique exploration of extraterrestrial tales, which he’s poised to do again.
Later this year, the director’s next UFO-centered sci-fi thriller is due to hit theaters, with Disclosure Day releasing on June 12. The film focuses on alien conspiracies and government cover-ups, telling the story of the people caught in the middle as the truth behind it all appears to be coming to light. With Disclosure Day’s secrets remaining under wraps for a few more months, it’s a fitting opportunity to look back at Spielberg’s lesser-known miniseries that explored similar themes 24 years ago. His ongoing fascination with aliens led to the development of Steven Spielberg Presents Taken, released on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2002. Despite being touted as a television event at the time, Taken has since fallen into obscurity.
‘Taken’ Explores the Human Drama of UFOs, Aliens, and Government Cover-Ups
Taken is a 10-part miniseries, with each episode running roughly 90 minutes and airing in two-hour installments. Spielberg served as an executive producer, with all 10 episodes penned by Leslie Bohem (Dante’s Peak, Daylight). Each episode featured a different director, with an impressive list that included Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Salem’s Lot), Bryan Spicer (The X-Files), and Breck Eisner (Sahara). The stellar ensemble cast also can’t be overstated, with the series featuring many famous actors in early roles. The stars include Dakota Fanning, Anton Yelchin, Joel Gretsch, John Hawkes, Matt Frewer, Ryan Hurst, Catherine Dent, Desmond Harrington, Julie Benz, Kevin Durand, Justin Chatwin, Michael Jeter, and Ryan Merriman.
Taken features the infamous 1947 Roswell UFO crash, and the story follows three families with unique ties to the event. The Keys family represents the abductees, beginning with Captain Russell Keys’ (Steve Burton) experiences in World War II, with ramifications that trickle down to his granddaughter, Allie (Fanning), in the present day. The Crawford family takes audiences through the government cover-up side of the narrative, beginning with Owen Crawford’s (Gretsch) involvement in shielding the world from the truth of Roswell. The Clarke family shelters an injured alien, turning their simple rural life into a decades-long journey to hide their encounter and the child born of it (Yelchin).
The miniseries is expertly crafted, beginning in 1944 and following the chronology of all three families through 2002. Each new generation is influenced by their parents’ events, and everything audiences glimpse plays into the show as it expands on lore and character arcs. The series takes a bold, often frightening look at alien abductions, presenting a chilling tale that is far too engrossing to turn away from. Taken presents fascinating arcs in which some families learn from past mistakes, others lean into their most nefarious aspects, and others discover unique gifts thanks to what their family endured.
Taken is also packed with impressive visuals that were far beyond most TV productions of the time, likely due to Spielberg’s influence. While some of the imagery doesn’t hold up after 24 years, the series still packs awe-inspiring moments and heart-wrenching family drama that are sure to please the director’s fans. Viewers can be crying over family trauma on screen, only to be treated to soldiers infiltrating an alien ship moments later, offering an exciting roller-coaster ride through each episode. If Disclosure Day is still too far off, Taken makes the perfect miniseries binge to satiate audiences in need of Spielberg’s particular sci-fi sensibilities.
Release Date
2002 – 2002-00-00
Network
SyFy
Directors
Thomas J. Wright, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Tobe Hooper, Breck Eisner, Bryan Spicer, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jeff Woolnough, Jeremy Kagan, John Fawcett
Andy Powers
Eric Crawford
Chad Donella
Jacob Clarke
