Ridley Scott Confirms Alien: Covenant Sequel

Ridley Scott confirmed that a third Alien prequel is in development, offering a path forward after the cliffhanger ending of Alien: Covenant.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scott stated that the new film will follow Michael Fassbender’s android character, David, as he creates a “brave new world for himself.” Scott noted his enduring interest in David and the hazards of malfunctioning artificial intelligence. “AIs can go off. And if they do, it’s like a bomb,” Scott said. The filmmaker prefers exploring artificial intelligence through storytelling rather than utilizing the technology in his productions, explaining that while he “can compete with an AI without any problem” today, he worries about a future where machines become “smarter than we are.”

Scott launched the series with his 1979 classic Alien, later returning to direct the prequels Prometheus in 2012 and Alien: Covenant in 2017. Prometheus tracks a Weyland Corporation expedition searching for the origins of human life, only to encounter lethal bioweapons tied to the Xenomorphs. David plays a pivotal role in the mission, losing interest in humanity while developing a deep obsession with the alien life-forms.

In Alien: Covenant, a crew of space colonists investigates a distress call on an uncharted planet, where they encounter David carrying out sinister biological experiments. The story concluded on an unresolved note, though the cinematic franchise shifted focus with Alien: Romulus. Set between the first movie and the second Alien installment, the Fede Álvarez-directed film largely stood apart from the prequels. Romulus succeeded at the box office, earning over $100 million more than Covenant on a smaller budget. A follow-up to Romulus is in pre-production, with filming scheduled to begin later this year.

The franchise is also expanding on television through Alien: Earth, an FX prequel series set after Scott’s prequel films but prior to the original 1979 release. The show will return for a second season, with production slated for late this year or early 2027. Despite the expanding universe, Scott intends to return to David’s storyline for another entry.

Source: Polygon