More Excited for ‘Alien’ or ‘Predator’ Sequel?
There’s big news for fans of two of the most prolific action/horror movies in cinematic history: Fox announced release dates for both new installments of the Alien and Predator franchises. Alien: Covenant is set to hit theaters August 4, 2017 and the untitled Predator sequel will drop March 2, 2018. While the mashup AVP: Alien vs. Predator and its followup were duds, Ridley Scott bounced back with his sort-of prequel Prometheus in 2012. We haven’t seen a new Predator movie since 2010’s Predators which had plenty of star power but lacked substance.
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Alien: Covenant is set ten years after Prometheus. It’s a sequel to the prequel, but still a prequel to the original film from 1979. Confused? Basically, fans will be introduced to a new set of characters who travel to a remote planet which they believe to be deserted aboard a ship called the Covenant. It’s there where they find David, Michael Fassbender’s character from Prometheus, and explore more of the isolated planet. It’s reported that Noomi Rapace will not return to reprise her role as Elizabeth Shaw, who’s status is unknown after she ended the prior movie by going on a quest to discover the Engineers’ home world. There’s a part of me that isn’t sold on this news that she won’t be in the film. Even if she doesn’t appear on camera, at the very least I expect her character to be mentioned.
All of the titles for the original movies from 1979-97 incorporated the word “alien” in them which changed with the 2012 prequel. Does this new title mean we’re getting closer to the timeline set in place by Sigourney Weaver? Or should we expect to see another prequel or two until we catch up with Ripley and the gang? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, Ridley Scott will return to direct while Michael Green has co-written the script alongside Jack Paglen and John Logan.
Unfortunately, there’s little information on the script for the Predator sequel. We do know that it is in fact a sequel and not a reboot of the franchise. Predators (2010) took a different spin from the first two movies. The movie was about a group of murderers and mercenaries from Earth being brought against their will to an unknown world where the predators hunted them for sport. I’m usually against reboots and remakes but this might be an instance where it would be beneficial. The first movie was far and away the best of the bunch so I would like to see an homage to that. At the same time, I hope the new sequel doesn’t even acknowledge the latest film and instead creates a new story that stands apart from its predecessor. Shane Black is on board to direct and co-write the script, while also working on the screenplay is Fred Dekker.
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Always being in competition with each other, especially after 2004’s showdown between the two creatures, we ask the question: Which sequel are you more excited for? Share your thoughts in our comment section below.