When Alien: Romulus burst onto the big screen, it felt like the franchise had finally been reborn. From the terrifying Xenomorphs to the claustrophobic horror and jaw-dropping tension, it captured everything fans love about the series while still feeling fresh and modern.
For the first time in years, fans walked out of theaters buzzing, not with disappointment or franchise fatigue, but with the kind of giddy hope that just maybe Alien had its mojo back. So naturally, the whispers of a sequel begin to emerge. In October 2024, news broke that 20th Century Studios was in development on another Alien movie.
At the time, it was also revealed that the studio was in talks with Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez to return and that the new film could possibly see actors Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson reprise their original roles as Rain and Andy. Then, in February 2025, Álvarez revealed that he was in the process of working on a script for a sequel and that he was planning on shooting it later that year.
A few months later in June, Álvarez revealed that pre-production had started on the Alien: Romulus sequel. A production start month in October was also shared, which was even more exciting news for fans eager to see the next chapter in the franchise come to life. But unfortunately, things have now come to a screeching halt.
Fede Álvarez will not be directing the Alien: Romulus sequel
While speaking with TooFab on the red carpet at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights on Sept. 4, Álvarez revealed that he won’t be directing the Alien: Romulus sequel, though he will remain on board as a producer alongside franchise creator Ridley Scott as they search for a new filmmaker to take the reins.
However, he did share the good news that the script for the sequel is already finished. So the story is ready to go. A good director is just the final piece of the puzzle, and Álvarez and Scott are determined to find someone who can come in and take the franchise to the next level.
"We just finished the script, actually, for a sequel for Romulus. But I'm gonna pass the torch on this one as director. I'm going to produce it, with Ridley Scott, we're gonna produce it together and we're right now trying to find a new filmmaker to come in."
Although it's disappointing that Álvarez won’t be returning as director, it shouldn't really be that surprising. The Alien franchise has always thrived on new voices taking the reins, from James Cameron to David Fincher, and now it’s simply the next chapter’s turn to be shaped by a fresh vision. Our only concern is how this will affect the production schedule. Is the planned October start date still realistic, or will finding the right director push filming back?
Only time will tell, but with Álvarez and Scott producing and the script already complete, there’s reason to stay optimistic. Fans just have to hope that the transition to a new director won’t slow things down too much and that the director chosen delivers. We would like to see the sequel sooner rather than later!
While waiting for more updates on the Alien: Romulus sequel, we strongly recommend checking out the latest installment in the franchise, Alien: Earth. It's currently airing on FX and streaming on Hulu.