Watch The Trailer For Netflix's New Polish UFO Drama Inspired By A Real-Life Alien Encounter

Netflix is set to release a new Polish series called 'Project UFO' on April 16. Set in the 1980s, the limited series takes inspiration from the real-life aftermath of one of Poland's most curious and publicised alleged UFO encounters.

While the show doesn't directly name the case, it's hard not to draw a line to what's become known among UFO enthusiasts as the "Emilcin Abduction." In 1978, in the small Polish village of Emilcin, a farmer named Jan Wolski claimed he was approached by two unusual beings. He described them, quite literally, as little green men. According to Wolski's account, the figures led him from his horse-drawn cart into a waiting craft in a nearby clearing. Inside, they examined him, then let him go.

His story gained national attention after a UFO researcher visited the area and helped promote the incident. The tale quickly entered Polish popular culture, inspiring a book, a documentary, and even a series of postcards. In 2005, a memorial was erected near the site of the alleged encounter, bearing the words: "Prawda nas jeszcze zadziwi," which translates roughly to "The truth will surprise us yet."

Now, Netflix's new drama reimagines the atmosphere of that era. Written and directed by Kasper Bajon, who previously worked on the Polish Netflix series 'High Water', 'Project UFO' follows two fictional characters - one a TV host presenting a programme reminiscent of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind', the other a passionate UFO enthusiast. When news of a UFO landing grips the nation, the pair find themselves drawn into the centre of the growing hysteria. But their search for the truth becomes tangled in a darker agenda, as a politician tries to exploit the panic for his own gain.

Although rooted in the past, Bajon says the series speaks to modern themes. "Our series talks about the longing for mystery and discovering the truth," he explained in an interview with a Central and Eastern European media network. "It is also a story about loneliness - not only here on Earth, but in the universe. Younger viewers in the series can see a story about fake news and how quickly, like a virus, they spread and appropriate the truth."

The trailer for 'Project UFO' sets the tone for a series that blends mystery, politics, and a nostalgic love for the era of Cold War sci-fi. While it draws from real-life reports, it's a fictional story that reflects how UFO sightings can sometimes reveal more about society than they do about outer space.