It has been over two years since Alien: Romulus opened in theaters and successfully revived the sci-fi horror franchise, yet there is still no word on a sequel. Directed by Evil Dead‘s Fede Álvarez, Alien: Romulus grossed $350 million worldwide and received an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a significant rebound from the previous film, Alien: Covenant. Ridley Scott’s sequel to his controversial prequel Prometheus grossed $240 million worldwide and scored a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite Alien: Romulus suggesting a new future for the franchise, director Ridley Scott seems to be merging the planned follow-up with his own vision for concluding his Prometheus trilogy.
Speaking with the French outlet AlloCiné, via Deadline, Ridley Scott said he is returning to the franchise to pick up where Alien: Covenant left off and conclude the story of Michael Fassbender’s android, David. It appears that Scott’s upcoming Alien film is overriding the direct sequel to Alien: Romulus, which Scott had some mediocre praise for and seemingly wants to course-correct the series. Scott said:
“The one that just came out [2024’s Alien: Romulus] was OK. I think it needs some help. So, I’ve gone back in. I’ve already got a footprint for the next Alien. We did Prometheus, and then Alien: Covenant. So, I’m picking up where we left off in Covenant with Michael Fassbender, who now thinks he’s Ozymandias.”
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Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in Alien: Romulus facing a Xenomorph 20th Century Studios -
Andy is in a trance in alien Romulus 20th Century Studios
20th Century Studios
20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell dismissed rumors that the Alien: Romulus sequel had been scrapped. However, the news that Ridley Scott is looking to finish off his trilogy that began with Prometheus and continued with Alien: Covenant adds new context for what has held up the Romulus sequel. Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez said he was working on a sequel script and would remain on as a producer, though he confirmed he would not return to direct. Rumors have circulated that Álvarez and Scott, a producer on the film, did not get along during production, though no official comment has been made.
Despite the mixed response to Scott’s Alien prequel films, Alien: Romulus included a few references to the films that made the two films part of the larger canon. It was heavily rumored that Álvarez wanted to include Michael Fassbender’s David in Alien: Romulus, but Ridley Scott vetoed it as he wanted to conclude the character’s story in his own Alien film. Regarding where Scott wants to take the character of David, he said:
“I like the fact that AI has gone off the rails. If we go AI, the moment we discover it’s off the rails is too late. It could switch every digital thing off in the world like that. You’d have f***ing chaos. It’s that kind of stuff that’s scary.”
A potential crossover film that brings together the storylines of Alien: Covenant and Alien: Romulus has potential. Scott’s comment about picking up directly where Covenant left off, plus Romulus stars like David Johnson starring in Black Panther III and Cailee Spaeny is circling a role in X-Men, makes it sound less like a Romulus continuation and more like a Covenant sequel. Given the mixed reaction to both Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, as well as the poor reaction to Scott’s most recent sci-fi film, The Dog Stars, it can’t help but feel like a step back for the Alien franchise.