It was not long before Alien: Romulus' announcement that Ridley Scott was developing a film meant to act as the third entry in the Prometheus trilogy. Plans were in motion for another movie centered around Michael Fassbender's David that would answer more Alien questions, but the film was ultimately pushed aside by 20th Century Studios in favor of making Romulus. Given the secrecy surrounding Scott's new Alien movie, there's still a chance that it is a wholly original idea that's disconnected from what happened before. But it might also be his chance to play a hand in connecting the franchise.
Ridley Scott's New Alien Movie Can Tie Up The David Trilogy Prometheus Started
He Already Had A Script For Another David Movie
The best bet for the story of Ridley Scott's new Alien movie is that it will have something to do with concluding the story Prometheus started. He became focused on exploring the franchise through David's perspective and the android's experiments increased with Alien: Covenant. The third film in the trilogy was meant to push this story further, with David coming into contact with the Engineers and having a plot that more directly lead into 1979's Alien. It would make sense for Scott still to have David's trilogy on his mind now and find a way to tie up the story.
There are many ways for Ridley Scott to go about this with the new Alien movie. He could directly revitalize the script he and John Logan developed for an Alien: Covenant sequel. The plan was for Michael Fassbender's David, Katharine Waterston's Daniels, and Danny McBride's Tennessee to come back, while the story was meant to take place on LV-426 and see the Engineers in pursuit of David. Scott could simply pick up this script again, tweak it as needed with any new ideas or connections to Romulus, and have a movie ready to go pending 20th Century's approval.
The other option for Ridley Scott is to incorporate his plans for the canceled Alien: Covenant sequel into a new idea. Perhaps he's been inspired by Alien: Romulus and how it tells an original story while still holding several connections to previous installments. He could look to do something similar, telling a story focused on a new set of characters who come across information that connects to what was meant to happen when the Prometheus trilogy ended. These payoffs could be major plot points or minor details in a new narrative set across the Alien timeline.
Alien: Romulus' Prometheus Connections Made Finishing David's Story More Important
The Franchise Directly Reminded Viewers Of The Prequels
The timing of Ridley Scott getting another Alien movie in development is notable too. Due to the underwhelming performance of Alien: Covenant, it was thought that Alien: Romulus would be a chance to reset the series a bit and tell a more standalone story, while still holding connections to Alien and Aliens given the timeline placement. What was unexpected were the various ways Prometheus plays a role in the film. Including details like the Prometheus black goo vials and the Engineer-inspired look of the Offspring, Álvarez used Romulus as a chance to remind audiences of the story Scott was telling.
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Those connections renewed interest in what was meant to happen after Alien: Covenant. It would have been easy for Romulus to ignore the prequels and be a film that was meant to help audiences move on and be excited for a new direction. There is certainly still excitement for seeing Andy and Rain's story continue in an Alien: Romulus sequel, but finishing David's story is also important now. Doing so can help bridge the gap between the prequels and the new films and explain what happened to David instead of ignoring it.
Ridley Scott's New Alien Movie Could Be Directly Tied To Alien: Romulus' Sequel
The Two Upcoming Projects Could Be Linked
Custom Image by Cooper Hood The development of Ridley Scott's new Alien movie also creates a chance for it to be directly connected to Alien: Romulus' sequel. This would not be necessary and depends on the exact story that the franchise creator wants to tell. However, there's a clear way for the two films to work in harmony and tell a cohesive story building on Alien: Romulus' ending that satisfies multiple parts of the canon.
The cliffhanger for Andy and Rain's future after Alien: Romulus is what will happen to them once they get to the new planet Yvaga III. They expect it to be a paradise for them, but Álvarez has already teased that this likely is not the case. Given the expectation that they will encounter xenomorphs and other forms of aliens again, Alien: Romulus 2 will have to explain how that is possible. That is where a Ridley Scott movie focused on David could be perfect.
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Ridley Scott's new installment could tell a story that at first appears to be completely separate from Alien: Romulus as David winds up on a new planet instead of Earth. This location would be where his experiments continue and leave the planet in a place where its inhabited by all types of xenomorphs and hybrids. However the actual plot plays out, the revelation could eventually come that this planet is the one that becomes known as Yvaga III - setting up Rain and Andy to encounter David's creations in Alien: Romulus' sequel.
Ridley Scott's Return To The Alien Franchise Can Help Avoid Dividing The Fanbase
The great thing about Ridley Scott's return to make a new Alien movie is what it can mean for the franchise's fanbase. Alien: Romulus proved to be a great new chapter in the series that made audiences excited to see what could come next. However, there has always been a large contingent of fans who still want Scott's trilogy to be completed, or at least for him to be more involved than only being a producer. By him developing a new movie in the franchise, there will be something for all types of fans to be excited about.
Someone wanting a more horror-driven approach that is focused on new characters but still connects to past installments has Alien: Romulus and its sequel. Anyone looking for more of Ridley Scott's vision will have this new project, which could lean more sci-fi or action, and Prometheus and Alien: Covenant fans will be extra pleased if the film is the final entry in the prequel trilogy. There's even Noah Hawley's prequel show Alien: Earth set to come out to offer up a different type of prequel. That puts the franchise in a great spot after Alien: Romulus.
Director Fede Alvarez
Release Date August 16, 2024
Writers Fede Alvarez , Rodo Sayagues , Dan O'Bannon , Ronald Shusett
Runtime 119 Minutes
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English (US) ·