The legendary director Ridley Scott, known for iconic films like Blade Runner and the original Alien, is diving back into the Xenomorph-infested universe. After expressing reservations about the recent direction of the franchise, Scott is taking a more hands-on approach to ensure the next installment lives up to the legacy.
Scott’s Concerns About Alien: Romulus
During an interview with French outlet AlloCiné (via Deadline), Scott revealed that he’s “gone back in” to the Alien property. While he praised Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus, which served as a soft reboot, he believes it could have been better. “I’m rewriting the next Alien film,” Scott stated bluntly. “Actually, I suddenly went back and got involved. The one that just came out [2024’s Alien: Romulus], it was OK. I think it needs some help. So, I’ve gone back in.”
Alien: Romulus introduced new characters like Rain (Cailee Spaeny), Andy the android (David Jonsson), and Kay (Isabela Merced) into a story teeming with Xenomorphs, Facehuggers, and other horrors. While it received generally favorable reviews, with an 80% critic score and an 85% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, IGN gave it an 8/10, praising its “back-to-basics approach,” Scott’s comments suggest he felt the film didn’t fully capture the essence of what makes Alien so compelling.
David’s Return and AI Themes
Scott recently confirmed that he was working on a new film continuing the trilogy he started with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, starring Michael Fassbender’s David. The plan is to explore how David, who now considers himself “Ozymandias,” creates “a brave new world for himself” while grappling with themes of artificial intelligence. Scott teased that the upcoming film will delve into the dangers of AI going “off the rails,” potentially causing “fking chaos” by disrupting all digital systems.
What’s Next for the Alien Franchise?
While David is returning to the forefront, the future of characters like Rain and Andy from Alien: Romulus remains uncertain. A sequel to Alien: Romulus was announced in November 2024, with Fede Álvarez initially slated to return as director, alongside Scott. However, it was later reported that Álvarez would only be involved as a producer. The release date for Scott’s new Alien film, which will continue the story from Covenant, remains unknown, leaving fans eagerly awaiting more details about this highly anticipated project.
In the meantime, audiences can check out Scott’s latest film, The Dog Stars, a post-apocalyptic adaptation of the novel, starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley, and Josh Brolin. The return of Ridley Scott to the Alien universe promises a fresh perspective on this iconic franchise, blending familiar elements with new themes and characters.
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