Ridley Scott Halts Alien: Romulus Sequel
Director Ridley Scott halted development of Alien: Romulus 2, calling the 2024 film just OK. He is now rewriting the next Alien installment.
Ridley Scott has taken control of the Alien franchise's future. In an interview with AlloCine, the director confirmed he is rewriting the next Alien film and that his intervention halted a sequel to 2024's Alien: Romulus.
Scott described Fede Alvarez's Alien: Romulus as just "OK." He stated, "I think it needs some help. So I've gone back in." The director also admitted, "I suddenly went back and got involved." This move effectively stopped the development of Alien: Romulus 2, which reportedly stalled several months ago.
Scott's Franchise Vision
Scott's return centers on his desire to complete the story of the synthetic David, played by Michael Fassbender. The character was introduced in Scott's 2012 film Prometheus. Scott had planned a follow-up to 2017's Alien: Covenant to conclude this narrative, but those plans were shelved after Covenant's disappointing commercial and critical reception. The subsequent sale of 20th Century Fox to Disney further complicated the franchise's direction.
It remains unclear whether Scott's influence stems from contractual power or deference from Disney. The studio appears keen to keep the iconic director involved. Scott is currently developing Treasure Island with Sony and may pursue a Bee Gees biopic with Paramount, but he has no immediate film set up at Disney.
Comparing the Recent Films
The source report argues that Scott himself diverted the saga's course and that Alien: Romulus was a better, more successful film than his own Alien: Covenant. The commercial performance of the two films supports this claim.
| Film | Release Year | Box Office Success |
|---|---|---|
| Alien: Covenant | 2017 | Less commercially successful |
| Alien: Romulus | 2024 | More commercially successful |
The Future of the Alien Saga
Scott's intervention marks the second time in roughly a decade that he has halted an Alien sequel that did not align with his vision for the franchise. With Scott now rewriting the next chapter, the planned sequel to Alvarez's film is on hold. Alvarez has moved on to develop other projects.
Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender's agent awaits a call. The fate of the Alien series once again rests firmly in the hands of its original creator, Ridley Scott.
