Originally published November 6, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
In light of the perceived failure of Alien: Covenant, and the polarising nature of Prometheus, Ridley Scott has been speaking at a Hollywood Reporter Roundtable about the future of the Alien franchise.
Speaking about his decision to pursue directorial duties on Alien: Covenant over the arguably more successful Blade Runner 2049, Scott said “It was a crossfire of too much business”, revealing that he’s involved in some way with at least six films released this year.
Alien: Covenant grossed $240m off a $97m budget, almost half of what Prometheus accrued ($403m, $130m budget), and on this Scott hinted at the future for his iconic xenomorph:-
“I figured it was a good piece of business to follow through Prometheus, which, from the ground zero, had good lift up. So we went to Covenant to perpetuate the idea and [revive] the franchise of Alien. However, I think the beast has run out, personally”.
There hasn’t been any official word on whether we’ll get a sequel to Covenant, and Scott’s eulogy to the beast only really adds weight to the theory that he’d lost interest in this narrative thread anyway, preferring to concentrate on the theological ideas channelled through Michael Fassbender’s David.
SEE ALSO: Is the Alien franchise exhausted?
Do you want to see another outing for the titular alien, or are you happy putting the franchise in cryosleep?
Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created in ALIEN with ALIEN: COVENANT, the second chapter in a prequel trilogy that began with PROMETHEUS — and connects directly to Scott’s 1979 seminal work of science fiction. Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
Alien: Covenant sees Ridley Scott reuniting with Prometheus stars Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace and Guy Pearce, while new cast additions Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice), Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down), Demian Bichir (A Better Life), Billy Crudup (Watchmen), Jussie Smollett (Empire), Carmen Ejogo (Selma), Amy Seimetz (Upstream Color), Benjamin Rigby (That’s Not Me), Callie Hernandez (Machete Kills), Tess Haubrich (The Wolverine) and James Franco (Why Him?).
