To kick off the release of the upcoming film Me and Orson Welles, the producers have decided to air the Orson Welles classic radio broadcast War of the Worlds in its entirety, 71 years after its original airing in 1938.

Welles directed and narrated a reading of H.G. Wells‘ classic sci-fi novel, War of the Worlds as though it were a real news broadcast on his Mercury Theater On The Air radio show and freaked nearly everyone listening out.

The audience was convinced aliens had invaded Earth, which caused a nationwide panic.

The 1938 reading will be rebroadcast 8:00 p.m. ET tonight on the web at http://waroftheworldstribute.com.

Orson and Me hits theaters November 25th, 2009.  The movie stars Christian McKay, Zac Efron and Claire Danes.