A New Nightmare Is Coming: Ridley Scott’s ‘Prometheus’ Saga Returns in a New ‘Alien’ Movie From the ‘Prisoners’ Writer

Few franchises have survived as many resurrections as ‘Alien.’ Ridley Scott’s 1979 original gave sci-fi horror its most terrifying creature, and every attempt since to find a new angle has divided fans. Now the man who started it all is stepping back into the dark.

The news arrives after a long stretch of uncertainty. A sequel to ‘Alien: Romulus’ has been stuck in limbo for months, director Fede Alvarez has stepped away from the chair, and fans have been left wondering what comes next. Scott himself dropped a hint in August, but few expected anything concrete this soon.

A new ‘Alien’ movie is officially in the works at 20th Century Studios, with Aaron Guzikowski writing the script. The Hollywood Reporter says it won’t be a follow-up to ‘Romulus’ and will instead connect to ‘Prometheus’ and ‘Alien: Covenant,’ the last 2 films Scott directed. Scott is producing, but no director is attached.

Guzikowski is best known for writing ‘Prisoners,’ Denis Villeneuve’s grim thriller from 2013, and for creating the HBO Max sci-fi series ‘Raised by Wolves.’ Scott executive produced that show and directed its first 2 episodes, which makes this a reunion of 2 collaborators. The series was well regarded but short-lived.

That background suggests a tone more cerebral and unsettling than a standard creature feature. ‘Prisoners’ is a slow-burning study of obsession, and ‘Raised by Wolves’ wrestled with androids, belief and survival on an alien world. Those are the same themes that ‘Prometheus’ and ‘Covenant’ tried to explore.

The key link between the new film and Scott’s earlier work is Michael Fassbender’s android, David. He was a supporting figure in ‘Prometheus’ and a full-blown antagonist in ‘Covenant,’ which ended with a chilling final shot that fans have been dissecting ever since. THR describes David as the connective tissue for the new movie.

Fassbender isn’t formally attached to the project, though Scott has long been open about wanting to return to the character. In an interview with AlloCiné in August, Scott said he was rewriting the next ‘Alien’ film and picking up where ‘Covenant’ left off, with an android who now thinks he’s Ozymandias. At the time, it sounded like a theoretical idea, and now it has a writer.

Scott made those comments while promoting ‘The Dog Stars,’ when he also said he thought ‘Romulus’ was OK. He described the next film as following David as he creates a brave new world for himself. That points toward a story that leans on the franchise’s mythology rather than another survival horror in a spaceship.

The 89-year-old filmmaker is only confirmed as producer for now, which leaves open the possibility that he could direct later. Plot details are still being kept under wraps, and no release date has been announced.

The announcement also clarifies the status of the planned ‘Romulus’ sequel, which THR reports is in limbo at the studio. ‘Alien: Romulus’ earned over $300 million at the box office in 2024, and a follow-up seemed like a safe bet. Alvarez later stepped away from directing and said he would remain involved as a producer.

Rumors have swirled about a creative disagreement with Scott, but they remain unconfirmed. For now, the studio seems to be pursuing 2 separate directions: a continuation of the ‘Prometheus’ timeline and a still-uncertain follow-up to ‘Romulus.’

The timing fits a broader push around the property. ‘Alien: Earth,’ Noah Hawley’s series for FX and Disney+, was a success, and there’s already been talk of a second season. With a TV show, a legacy sequel and now a prequel-adjacent film, the xenomorph is everywhere.

That could be a strength or a risk. Fans have often complained that the franchise has lost its sense of focus, but this new project promises to answer questions that have been lingering for nearly a decade.

Online reaction has been strong, partly because ‘Covenant’ ended on a cliffhanger that never received a sequel. Some fans have been waiting for this exact news, while others are wary of returning to the Engineers’ storyline after the mixed reception it received. Both camps agree the franchise needs a clear direction.

Whether the movie moves quickly may depend on Scott’s involvement and on whether Fassbender returns. For now, the next chapter of one of sci-fi’s most famous franchises has a writer, a producer and a very scary android at its center.

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