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Updated: Alan Dean Foster to Pen Alien: Covenant Novelization!

Alan Dean Foster to pen Alien: Covenant novelization! This is news I’m really happy to announce! There hasn’t been an English novelization of an Alien (or Predator) film since Marc Cerasini adapted Paul W.S Anderson and Shane Salerno’s Alien vs. Predator script in 2004. There was a Japanese adaptation done for Prometheus.

Alien vs. Predator Galaxy spoke to Alan Dean Foster over the weekend who confirmed that he was returning to write a novelization of the upcoming Alien: Covenant. Unfortunately we have no further details to share but I expect we’ll get more information and a release date after the new year when promotion kicks in for the film.

Alan Dean Foster to pen Alien: Covenant novelization! Picture is cover art for an Alien novelization by Mr Foster. Alan Dean Foster to Pen Alien: Covenant Novelization!

Alan Dean Foster to pen Alien: Covenant novelization! Picture is cover art for an Alien novelization by Mr Foster.

Alan Dean Foster wrote the three original Alien novelizations but after the difficulty he had working on Alien 3, he declined to return to write the Alien: Resurrection adaptation. Back in 2006 I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Foster who chatted to us about his experience writing the novelizations.

“I was asked to do Resurrection. Because of the problems I experienced in writing 3, I turned it down. I’m a bit regretful now (but only a bit). It was better than 3. I was not offered the A vs. P books, which is just as well. I would have disliked being a party to simultaneously demolishing not one but two important SF film franchises.”

Be sure to check out the interview to find out how he intended to keep Hicks and Newt alive in Alien 3 and more!

Stick with Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest on Alien: Covenant! You can follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram to get the latest on your social media walls. You can also join in with fellow Alien fans on our forums!

Updated 27/09/2016 – Hidden away on Alan Dean Foster’s website is a comment he made regarding his work on the novelization and “other original material“:

“I’m currently writing the novelization, plus some unique original material, for ALIEN:COVENANT. An unusual approach that’s never been tried before in a novelization. Look for it, along with the film, next year.”



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Comments: 31
  1. Xenomrph
    ADF's novelization for 'The Chronicles of Riddick' had a really cool "world building" appendix at the back of the book that detailed the culture and history of the Necromongers. I don't know how much of it was created from whole cloth by ADF and how much was from David Twohy's notes, but it was still cool all the same.
  2. Perfect-Organism
    Quote from: XENOMORPHOSIS on Sep 27, 2016, 01:13:57 AM
    @ japes01

    One the one hand most will say that Alien 3 despite its flaws hold well for a bleak artistic style in the vein of "Rildey Scott's Alien Haunted House in space Horror" in terms of artistic integrity Alien 3 has garnered some respect.

    Whereas some others, a fair minority prefer Alien Resurrection's attempt to retread the "James Cameron Action-esque Roller Coaster, Pop Corn Entertainment angle" for this reason despite its many problems some may find more fun with Resurrection. Also he probably had more hate for Alien 3 for killing off Hicks, Newt, Bishop and Ripley at the end. :P

    Question remains, does this mean that Alien Covenant has a script/story of quality that has impressed Alan Dean Foster enough to want to adapt it for a novelization, or could we just assume its solely for a pay check, wishful thinking I strongly hope its because he's seen something of value.

    Aliens and Alien Resurrection are vastly different movies despite being action packed marine oriented stories.  Aliens is built around a framework which invests the viewer's emotions (exactly like Jurrasic Park) by having us experience the thrill ride while caring for a little child in the face of monsters, while all of this is missing in AR.  It is back to an ice cold reality.
  3. T Dog
    Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Sep 27, 2016, 07:17:41 AM
    Quote from: Nostromo on Sep 26, 2016, 02:50:56 PM
    Do you guys prefer to read the novel or watch the movie first?

    I'd have to say I'd read the novelization first. One because I'm a sucker for spoilers and two because of the website. lol

    Quote from: XENOMORPHOSIS on Sep 27, 2016, 01:13:57 AM
    Question remains, does this mean that Alien Covenant has a script/story of quality that has impressed Alan Dean Foster enough to want to adapt it for a novelization, or could we just assume its solely for a pay check, wishful thinking I strongly hope its because he's seen something of value. 

    I think his experience working on 3 will have coloured his opinion somewhat. And whilst I do love Alien 3 despite its flaws, Resurrection is less of a mess of a film.

    Hopefully I'll get a chance to chat to him properly about the novel after the film and find out a bit more backstory about his involvement.


    Also, just noticed this comment on ADF's website:

    QuoteI'm currently writing the novelization, plus some unique original material, for ALIEN:COVENANT. An unusual approach that's never been tried before in a novelization. Look for it, along with the film, next year.

    Wonder what this could mean?
    Does it mean he's maybe writing some original backstory for some characters for the novelisation?

    Or does it mean he's writing some material to be filmed as a viral/accompanying movie for the film?
  4. Corporal Hicks
    Quote from: Nostromo on Sep 26, 2016, 02:50:56 PM
    Do you guys prefer to read the novel or watch the movie first?

    I'd have to say I'd read the novelization first. One because I'm a sucker for spoilers and two because of the website. lol

    Quote from: XENOMORPHOSIS on Sep 27, 2016, 01:13:57 AM
    Question remains, does this mean that Alien Covenant has a script/story of quality that has impressed Alan Dean Foster enough to want to adapt it for a novelization, or could we just assume its solely for a pay check, wishful thinking I strongly hope its because he's seen something of value. 

    I think his experience working on 3 will have coloured his opinion somewhat. And whilst I do love Alien 3 despite its flaws, Resurrection is less of a mess of a film.

    Hopefully I'll get a chance to chat to him properly about the novel after the film and find out a bit more backstory about his involvement.


    Also, just noticed this comment on ADF's website:

    QuoteI'm currently writing the novelization, plus some unique original material, for ALIEN:COVENANT. An unusual approach that's never been tried before in a novelization. Look for it, along with the film, next year.

    Wonder what this could mean?
  5. XENOMORPHOSIS
    @ japes01

    One the one hand most will say that Alien 3 despite its flaws hold well for a bleak artistic style in the vein of "Rildey Scott's Alien Haunted House in space Horror" in terms of artistic integrity Alien 3 has garnered some respect.

    Whereas some others, a fair minority prefer Alien Resurrection's attempt to retread the "James Cameron Action-esque Roller Coaster, Pop Corn Entertainment angle" for this reason despite its many problems some may find more fun with Resurrection. Also he probably had more hate for Alien 3 for killing off Hicks, Newt, Bishop and Ripley at the end. :P

    Question remains, does this mean that Alien Covenant has a script/story of quality that has impressed Alan Dean Foster enough to want to adapt it for a novelization, or could we just assume its solely for a pay check, wishful thinking I strongly hope its because he's seen something of value. 
  6. Kurai
    Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Sep 26, 2016, 04:12:03 PM
    You could always learn Kanji if you're that desperate for a Prometheus novelization.

    If someone has it in E-book form, I could give a shot at a translation... Though I'm not sure about the legality of releasing something like that...

    Good to know Covenant is getting an ADF novel adaption! Once more echoing everyone else in hoping that he gives Prometheus a go as well. Dark Horse comic adaptions wouldn't hurt either.  ;D
  7. Perfect-Organism
    To read the book or watch the movie first?  I can't help myself so I would read the book if it came out early for sure, but it is a loaded question.  Reading the book takes away all suspense.  If you want to be scared during the film, then reading the book will deprive you of that.  But reading the book first, allows you to get a head start on the analysis of the film.  By the time you see it, you already have time to canalize plot points, and if the book has even more depth than the movie by including scenes that don't make the final cut, then this will enhance the joy of the film.  You'd be watching it with greater insight.  I'm going to read the book..
  8. Whiskeybrewer
    Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Sep 26, 2016, 04:12:03 PM
    Quote from: Whiskeybrewer on Sep 26, 2016, 11:19:34 AM
    This is really good news. I always love ADF's novelisations. Maybe Ridley spoke to him personally about it, since he has a huge amount of pull over the franchise atm.

    There was a comment by Robert Meyer Burnett a few days ago who said the Covenant script was apparently "incredible". Hopefully that's the reason why ADF took this job. I don't think he does this kind of thing just for the money anymore.

    QuoteWish they'd let him go back and do a Prometheous adapt as well for us English speaking folk

    You could always learn Kanji if you're that desperate for a Prometheus novelization.

    Stop with the Logic and proper reasoning lmao
  9. Mr. Clemens
    Wonderful news! As a kid, I read his ALIEN novelization religiously between '79 and '83 (when I finally got to see the film on VHS), and from my perspective, ADF is just as much Alien royalty as Scott, Giger, and Goldsmith.
  10. 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯
    Quote from: Whiskeybrewer on Sep 26, 2016, 11:19:34 AM
    This is really good news. I always love ADF's novelisations. Maybe Ridley spoke to him personally about it, since he has a huge amount of pull over the franchise atm.

    There was a comment by Robert Meyer Burnett a few days ago who said the Covenant script was apparently "incredible". Hopefully that's the reason why ADF took this job. I don't think he does this kind of thing just for the money anymore.

    QuoteWish they'd let him go back and do a Prometheous adapt as well for us English speaking folk

    You could always learn Kanji if you're that desperate for a Prometheus novelization.
  11. Perfect-Organism
    Awesome news!  ADF's earlier novels were really great and had their own superb sense of style.  I only wish that he would be afforded the possibility of doing an adaptation of Prometheus as well.  Given that Titan has found a niche business of churning out Alien novels, perhaps this is not that far fetched as one might think.  Perhaps if an extended version of the film comes out, it could be a good opportunity to get a novelization?

    Hopefully we will get a Dark Horse graphic novel adaptation as well.  Ditto for Prometheus..
  12. Whiskeybrewer
    I reckon it would only happen if they re-released Prometheous under Alien : Prometheous or something like that.

    I'd just like an English one and I'm sure he'd fix certain things and maybe use bits from Engineers and Genesis lol
  13. Whiskeybrewer
    This is really good news. I always love ADF's novelisations. Maybe Ridley spoke to him personally about it, since he has a huge amount of pull over the franchise atm. Wish they'd let him go back and do a Prometheous adapt as well for us English speaking folk
  14. Corporal Hicks
    Quote from: jeanj on Sep 26, 2016, 10:51:04 AM
    I've never read novelizations. Are they close to the movie storyline ?

    Depends on what script they're being adapted from. Usually though they're based on the shooting script before any editing so you'll often get to read deleted or alternate scenes. Those differences are primarily the fun of reading the novelizations.

    QuoteShould be expect it to be released months before the movie ?

    Really depends on how secretive they're going to be about the film. Conservatively, I'd expect maybe a couple of weeks before the film is out.
  15. Corporal Hicks
    Quote from: Xenomrph on Sep 23, 2016, 04:33:48 AM
    Wow, I guess he got over his hang-ups with writing Alien novelizations after Alien3.

    No really, this is pretty great news!

    To be fair, that was 24 years ago! I'm glad though! I'm really excited about this news. I had been hoping they'd do an adaptation and especially glad it's ADF!


    Quote from: Local Trouble on Sep 22, 2016, 07:41:44 PM
    Can you get an interview?

    Possibly. But I wouldn't want to until after it's published.
  16. windebieste
    Foster writing the novelisation of the movie hearkens back to the Glory Days of yore.  This really is beginning to feel like the series is returning to its roots.  Finally. 

    -Windebieste.
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