After nearly a decade of waiting, director Ridley Scott has finally confirmed that he is returning to his in-process Alien prequel trilogy to deliver the final installment and that Michael Fassbender’s fan-favorite character of David will be at the center of this threequel. This is, if I may speak as objectively as possible, absolutely incredible news.
Scott is, of course, the director who kick-started the entire franchise back in 1979, with the release of the original science-fiction horror classic, Alien. In the years that followed, Scott seemed more than happy to pass off the franchise to other filmmakers such as James Cameron and David Fincher as he pursued other passions, such as Blade Runner. However, sometime around the early ‘00s, Scott became enamored with the idea of returning to the Alien series in one form or another. Initially, he and Cameron were both going to return to collaborate on a fifth mainline Alien film, but that film was shelved by 20th Century Fox executives in favor of pursuing the PG-13 crossover, Alien vs. Predator.
While such dismissal dissuaded Cameron from ever working on the series again, Scott was not so easily shooed off. He persisted and ultimately won Fox over after the tepid reception of 2007’s Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, getting the greenlight to make an Alien prequel, which would evolve into 2012’s Prometheus. Prometheus was an audacious swing for the fences of a latter-era science fiction film if ever there was one, and it well-and-truly ruffled some feathers. The film was a massive success but was met with a divisive response from fans and critics. Five years later, Scott made the follow-up, Alien: Covenant, which incorporated more iconic Alien imagery and story beats but also was an even more brutal, gruesome, and invasive film than its predecessor.
The sole character to carry over between Prometheus and Covenant was Michale Fassbender’s David, an android with agendas all his own, who went from an off-kilter side character to a full-blown villain in the second installment. Covenant ends on the cliffhanger of David, with several Xenomorph eggs and a ship full of potential hosts in tow, assumedly to start a colony all his own. However, the breaks were put on any sequel plans shortly thereafter, as Disney acquired Fox and wanted to opt for a more traditional Alien installment than another of Scott’s divisive prequels.
Now, however, Scott is making his return and apparently plans to finish the trilogy off, saying that it will feature David building “a brave new world for himself.” This sounds immensely promising, and I will be there opening night, regardless of anything else. Inject into my veins, stat.
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