The Alien franchise is at a fascinating crossroads. Following the impressive performance of Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus, which grossed over $350 million worldwide against an $80 million budget, a sequel was swiftly announced. However, the path forward has been less than clear. Álvarez himself initially seemed poised to return but later clarified that the sequel wasn't his next project, sparking whispers of behind-the-scenes friction, potentially involving franchise producer Ridley Scott.
Since then, various names have circulated as potential directors for the Romulus follow-up, including Demián Rugna (When Evil Lurks), Michael Sarnoski (Pig), and Sébastien Vaniček (Vermines). The latest director to be linked was Brian Duffield, whose recent work on the sci-fi thriller No One Will Save You (known as Traquée in some markets) made him a compelling candidate for a fresh take on the xenomorphs.
However, Duffield has now definitively set the record straight. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter during the promotional tour for his new project, he addressed the rumors head-on. "I’m not going to make an Alien movie," Duffield stated. "I know how that rumor started, but no one has ever asked me to direct an Alien movie."
He clarified his actual involvement, explaining, "The studio 20th needed a hand with the writing for a few weeks, and I helped them while I was working on No One Will Save You, because they are the same people and the same studio." While he isn't directing, Duffield expressed optimism for the project, adding, "I hope they can get started soon. Those actors are really great."
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Duffield declined to specify which Alien project he contributed writing to, only adding to the ongoing speculation. The most obvious candidate would be the Alien: Romulus sequel, especially given Duffield's plural reference to "those actors," likely referring to Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, the two survivors of Romulus.
Yet, the Alien cinematic landscape is complex. Ridley Scott has frequently expressed his desire to continue the storyline from Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, potentially focusing on Michael Fassbender's android David. Reports have indicated Scott was actively developing a new Alien film. This, combined with the earlier rumors of production issues for the Romulus sequel, paints a picture of a franchise with multiple, possibly conflicting, creative visions.
Beyond the Romulus sequel and Scott's potential continuation, there have even been hints of an Alien vs. Predator revival, teased by producers and seemingly set up by Predator: Badlands. It's a universe brimming with possibilities, but lacking a clear unified direction for its next major cinematic outing.
Meanwhile, fans can look forward to the second season of the Alien: Earth TV series, which is expected to arrive before any new feature film. While a release date for the adventures of Wendy on the xenomorph-infested island hasn't been set, a summer 2027 debut is a strong possibility.
For now, the big screen future of Alien remains shrouded in a fog as thick as a derelict ship's atmosphere. Will it be a direct continuation of Romulus, a return to David's twisted narrative, or something entirely different? Only time, and perhaps a few more official denials, will tell.
