It’s been a few years since our last foray into Ridley Scott’s Alien universe. 2017’s Alien: Covenenant saw the legendary director return to his iconic franchise in hopes of melding it more tightly with the story told in Prometheus, a movie which was billed as an Alien prequel but primarily focused on a totally different set of characters and events. Those films have a cult following, but didn’t do well enough that 20th Century Studios pursued a third installment.
Since then, Alien has lain dormant, just waiting for its moment to burst back onto the scene. And soon, we may have not one but two new Alien stories.
We’ve reported quite a bit on Noah Hawley’s Alien television series, which is being developed for FX and Hulu. The Xenomorph is now the property of Disney, and we all know that Mickey Mouse would rather take his chances with a facehugger than let a valuable franchise lie unused.
Cailee Spaeny in talks to star in new Alien movie with Ridley Scott producing
In addition to Hawley’s TV show, which takes place on Earth and tells a story of corporate greed which somehow ties into the genesis of the Xenomorphs, 20th Century and Disney are also developing a new Alien movie for Hulu. Don’t Breathe director Fede Álvarez will be helming the film, with Alien creator Ridley Scott serving as a producer.
Deadline reports that work on this Alien film is moving along, and that it may have just found its lead in Cailee Spaeny. Spaenys is probably best known to sci-fi viewers for her role as Amara Namani in Pacific Rim: Uprising and Lily in The Craft: Legacy. It’s not a sure thing yet, but Deadline notes that Spaeny has been the “top choice for the lead role for some time” after she met with the studio and with Álvarez. If Spaeny ends up starring in Hulu’s new Alien film, it will continue the long tradition of badass female protagonists clashing with the Xenomorphs.
The script for Fede Álvarez’s Alien movie has reportedly been turned in, with 20th Century eyeing early 2023 as a potential start date for filming.
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h/t Syfy Wire