Alien: Ridley Scott is Working on a New Movie!
An "Alien" series will also be released
With "Alien: Romulus", 20th Century Studios has achieved a remarkable success this year. With a budget of 80 million dollars, the film grossed over 350 million dollars worldwide. Reason enough for a series of further sequels – and even Ridley Scott is working on making a movie of his own again!
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Scott is to play a major part in the franchise again. There is currently no information about the story of the planned film. It also remains unclear whether the new part will follow on from "Alien: Covenant" or whether it will tell an independent story within the series. Scott regretted that he did not have long-term control over the franchise from the outset. Nevertheless, he seems to regularly manage to get involved as a creative consultant and producer. Scott and his company Scott Free are also involved as producers for the upcoming series "Alien: Earth", which is being developed by "Fargo" creator Noah Hawley. The series will serve as a prequel to the "Alien" film series and is intended to shed light on the origins of the deadly xenomorph.
Scott, who directed the first "Alien" movie in 1979, was not actively involved in the continuation of the series for a long time. It was not until 2012 that he returned with "Prometheus" and established a new era in the "Alien" universe. However, the film was not particularly well received by fans and "Alien: Covenant" fell short of expectations as well. As a result, 20th Century Studios decided to hand over the reins to Fede Álvarez for some time.
A Journey Through the Alien Franchise: All Movies at a Glance
Since its debut in 1979, the "Alien" franchise has made a lasting impression on the film world and is one of the most famous sci-fi horror franchises ever. The movies masterfully combine science fiction with horror and unfold a dark story about the deadly creature, the so-called Xenomorph, which threatens humanity in various scenarios. The series now includes a large number of movies made by Ridley Scott and other renowned directors, with each new release adding new twists and background stories to the universe. Here's an overview of all the Alien films to date and how they shaped the franchise.
Alien (1979) – The Origin of Horror
The first "Alien" film, directed by Ridley Scott in 1979, laid the foundations for the franchise and quickly became a cult classic. The story follows the crew of the spaceship Nostromo, who receive a mysterious distress signal in the vastness of space. While investigating, they come across a strange egg from which a parasitic life form, the "Facehugger", hatches and attacks the crew members. Shortly afterwards, it develops into the Xenomorph, an extremely dangerous creature that wipes out the crew one by one. Sigourney Weaver's unforgettable performance as Ellen Ripley and the oppressive setting on board the spaceship created the basis for one of the most captivating sci-fi series. Scott's masterpiece is regarded as groundbreaking for the genre and set new standards in terms of atmosphere and suspense.
Aliens (1986) – More Action, More Xenomorphs
Seven years after the original, "Aliens" was released under the direction of James Cameron. This second part focused more on action without neglecting the horror elements of the original. The story begins 57 years after the events of "Alien": Ripley is rescued from her cryogenic sleep and learns that the planet LV-426, where the xenomorph was first discovered, has now been colonized. When contact with the colonists breaks off, Ripley accompanies a squad of marines on a rescue mission. But what awaits them is a Xenomorph nest full of deadly creatures. "Aliens" is often referred to as one of the best action movies of all time and cemented Weaver's role as one of cinema's most recognizable action heroines.
Alien 3 (1992) – A Dark Transformation
"Alien 3", directed by David Fincher, had a difficult production history and was not as positively received as its predecessors. After an accident, Ripley ends up on a remote prison planet where she is the only survivor – apart from a new xenomorph that came on board. "Alien 3" is known for its dark and nihilistic atmosphere, which took the franchise in an unexpected direction. However, many fans criticized the abrupt death of several characters from the previous movie, which divided the fan community. Fincher's vision was nevertheless later released in a "director's cut", which further deepened the dark story and shed a different light on the movie.
Alien: Resurrection (1997) – An Unorthodox Comeback
Four years after "Alien 3", the franchise returned with "Alien: Resurrection". The movie was directed by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet and the screenplay was written by Joss Whedon. The film is set 200 years after the events of "Alien 3": Ripley is brought back as a clone to battle the Xenomorph once again. Scientists have recreated the creature in an experimental laboratory, but the experiments get out of hand. The film introduced the Xenomorph as a genetically modified variant, which further expanded the franchise, but received mixed reviews.
Prometheus (2012) – The Search for the Origin
After a break of several years, Ridley Scott returned with "Prometheus", a film set in the Alien universe but is more of a prequel. The story follows a team of researchers who travel to an alien planet to explore the origins of humanity. Instead, they come across the so-called "Engineers", an ancient alien race with a connection to the Xenomorphs. "Prometheus" divided audiences as the movie contained more philosophical questions than horror elements, and yet it was praised for its deep themes and stunning visuals.
Alien: Covenant (2017) – Return to the Roots
With "Alien: Covenant", Scott continued the story of "Prometheus" while returning to the horror of the first films. The crew of the colony ship Covenant stumbles upon an abandoned planet where they meet David, the surviving android from Prometheus. But the planet harbors a deadly secret, and the crew is hunted by the first "protomorphs" and an evolved xenomorph. Covenant was supposed to renew the franchise, but fell short of expectations of many fans who wanted a clearer connection to the original.
Alien: Romulus (2023) – A New Chapter
"Alien: Romulus" is the latest addition to the Alien franchise and was directed by Fede Álvarez, with Ridley Scott as producer. The movie grossed over 350 million dollars and proved that the fascination with the deadly alien creature is undiminished. With a fresh take on the Xenomorph menace, Álvarez brought a new dynamic to the series and took the franchise in an exciting direction.
The "Alien" franchise thus remains one of the most exciting and diverse series in film history.
