Filmmaker Ridley Scott has confirmed his intention to direct a new Alien movie to complete his trilogy focused on the synthetic character David, as owner Disney evaluates five potential feature films in the sci-fi franchise.
The planned sequel to Alien: Covenant is one of several proposals under consideration at Disney, though Alien: Romulus 2 is currently the only project confirmed to be in active development. Director Fede Alvarez led the first Alien: Romulus film, which marked the franchise's recent return to cinema screens following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
The Alien franchise began in 1979 with Scott's original film and has since expanded across movies, comic books, video games, and television series. Disney acquired the rights to the science fiction property in 2019 through its purchase of 20th Century Fox. The brand's long history made it an easy decision for the studio to approve new installments, including the recent television expansion Alien: Earth.
Five Alien film projects under consideration
Disney has accumulated a slate of five film projects that have either entered development or been considered by executives. Alongside Alvarez's Alien: Romulus 2 and Scott's proposed Covenant sequel, the studio has explored a film featuring Sigourney Weaver returning as Ellen Ripley, a new entry in the Alien vs. Predator crossover series, and a feature film script reportedly being written by Brian Duffield.
Scott's desire to finish his prequel storyline centered on the android David dates back to before Alien: Covenant debuted in cinemas in 2017. The project would serve as the final installment in a trilogy that began with Prometheus. However, industry reports indicate that the completion of Scott's trilogy depends on whether Disney executives consider his concept solid enough to move into production.
Concerns over franchise direction and coherence
While the slate of potential projects demonstrates ongoing commercial interest in the franchise, observers note that the multiple competing ideas suggest a growing lack of overall direction at Disney. Industry analysts warn that releasing disconnected storylines risks scattering narrative coherence, leaving audiences confused about where individual films fit within the overall timeline.
Despite the high potential of several concepts, significant uncertainty remains over how many of the proposed films will actually be produced. Aside from Alien: Romulus 2, virtually no concrete details have been confirmed for the remaining four titles. With numerous development factors to weigh, industry sources suggest that several of the pitched Alien projects may ultimately never reach production.
