Since the first movie in 1979, the Alien franchise has become one of the best-loved sci-fi properties of all time. Whether it’s the original series with Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, the more recent prequel movies, or the myriad books and video games, the obsession with Alien never goes away. And soon enough, we’ll get its the first-ever Alien TV show from Fargo creator Noah Hawley, produced by original movie director Ridley Scott.
Don’t expect the TV show to reinvent the wheel in the same way that the recent prequel movies — Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017) — attempted to. During a TCA presentation (via Collider), FX president John Landgraf revealed that Hawley’s grounded vision will stay true to the “cinematic” aesthetic of the classic films:
"I think it was very conscious the fact that there’s a cinematic universe, and that while it has some flexibility, that the aesthetic that was established by Ridley Scott and continued by James Cameron is a part of that universe."
Bringing the iconic franchise to the small screen is no easy feat, as anything in the Alien franchise comes with high expectations. Landgraf is confident that FX’s series will satisfy fans. “You’re being given access to a really precious resource, when you’re granted access to such an important piece of IP, and it’s not something FX does a lot of,” he said.
"It’s a really big world-building exercise. Noah, with support from Scott Free, is certainly up to it. But you’re talking about designing and building sets and world-building is huge, so we’re well into it."
While there’s no release date as of yet, Landgraf sounds cautiously optimistic about the timeframe. “We’re actually moving apace. You know, I have optimism, for example, that this show may well roll out in 2023. Probably will roll out in 2023, but we want to get it right.”
Hawley and FX are developing a reputation for quality shows. Their first big hit was Fargo, which was based on the hit 1996 movie. Another example would be Legion, based on the Marvel Comics character. Clearly, the Alien TV show is in very capable hands.
Get hyped for the Alien TV show — but don’t expect an Alien 5 anytime soon!
Amid all the talk of the TV show, fans are still wondering if Alien 5 will ever see the light of day. Unfortunately, it’s best if we don’t get our hopes up. Filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, who has long been connected with developing the fifth installment, is no longer confident about seeing it happen.
“No, would be my guess, Blomkamp told ComicBook. “I would say nothing will come out. But, who knows? At this present moment, I would say it’s just dead.”
The latest prequel installment, Covenant, ultimately failed to capture the imagination of viewers in the same way as the original films. Moreover, the planned movie hit another hurdle when Disney got hold of the franchise after acquiring 20th Century Fox. But never say never to Alien 5. The franchise is no stranger to resurrections…look no further than Ripley 8!
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