It hasn’t been looking good for Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5 for some time now, with Blomkamp himself recently saying that the chances of seeing the alternate Alien 3 being made were “slim“.
With Alien: Covenant mere weeks away from release, Sir Ridley Scott (who would have served as executive producer on Blomkamp’s Alien) is currently doing the press rounds to promote the new film and was asked by French outlet Allocine about Alien 5.
“Ridley Scott, who was in Paris for the promotion of the new opus of the saga, was even more definitive in our microphone: “I think he will never see the light,” he replied after explaining That the project was far less advanced than previously thought. “There was never a scenario, just an idea that evolved into a pitch of ten pages, I had to participate as a producer but it did not go any further because the Fox decided that She did not want to do it. I had already done Prometheus and worked on Covenant.” (Translated from French)
Though Scott mentions the project never went past a pitch, a script for the film was reportedly completed with James Cameron described it as “amazing.”
Originally it was thought that Blomkamp’s Alien film was waiting for Alien: Covenant to be finished but then other commitments from Sigourney Weaver and Neill Blomkamp made it look like it would be a longer wait.
While Alien 5 may no longer be happening, Alien: Covenant is just around the corner and the next film in Scott’s prequel series is already being written.
Thanks to Stolen and Antonie Svlt (via the Weyland-Yutani Bulletin) for the news. Keep a close eye on Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest Alien news! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the latest on your social media walls. You can also join in with fellow Alien fans on our forums!
I was referring to the pacing issues and
Spoiler
I believe it was Ridley's idea to have
Spoiler
This mess might not be Ridley's fault entirely, Fox are known meddlers so maybe they had a hand in it as well. I believe they made Cameron cut a lot of his movie out, the intended version was only released much later.
As for Alien 5, I no longer have an opinion on that. Perhaps it is best to leave it at Alien/Aliens/Alien3 and if you need to watch it, the parody/satire A:R
Instead they could make a interquel set beteween Aliens and Alien 3 to explain the egg.
Ridley has messed the mythology up big time. Don't give him further control.
Weaver agreed to making 'ALIEN 3' on the proviso:
1. It be about Ripley
2. She dies at the end.
3. NO GUNS.
Now, I have no problem with demands 1 or 2 but that final demand meant the script had to go the way it did. It had put another Alien into a scenario with characters in a tight, claustrophopic environment. The whole spaceship thing had already been done. So a monastry (later a prison) where weapons were out of place became the main location for the drama to unfold.
Probably her more so than studio pressure was the reason 'ALIEN 3' started under less than favorable conditions. After all, the producers put pressure on everyone to bring their preferences to the movie. That means Weaver's influence was strong.
More importantly, as a producer on the movie, it was Weaver who killed of the USCM in this series because no guns were to appear in the third movie. Think about that.
What's the point of the USCM without pulse rifles? lol. Weaver did it.
-Windebieste
Yes. Ridley getting script control in Alien franchise away from Sigourney allows for the exploration of back story ideas (the Engineers) and the development of other characters like David.
Everything doesn't have to focus on Weaver anymore.
A cameo would be nice. Something edgy though, like they recieve a transmission from Ripley, or as part of a story-building plot-twist involving Ripley. Mostly Ripley-free though, revolving around a new protagonist (not Daniels, keep her constrained to the prequels imo)...
I agree. We don't need Ripley, Hicks or Newt to make a worthy successor and wrap the series in a neat little bow. But 3 and Resurrection shafted us all on that end, and gave them horrible, sour taste resolutions. It would be perfect to have one last, baton-passing film to resolve their story, and break in the new generation that has to defeat everything once and for all. Just setting the film in an alternate timeline like the current Star Trek series would go a long way to that.
Does the film have to be as action-oriented as Aliens was? No, of course not. But it should have strands of its DNA, work to combine the best of both worlds, and have something worthy and original in the mix as well. We, the fans, deserve something to eliminate 3, Resurrection, AvP and Colonial Marines from our collective memory, and actually feel good about. Not to mention, feel quite happy and convinced with the Prometheus series as well. I want a beginning, middle and an end. We don't have an end.
Anyways, I'm sure after Alien Covenant's sequel they'll reach Blookamp again. By that time Sigourney will have finished her work at Avatar. So I don't really think this is the last time we hear about this project.
To be fair to Ridley, he was just referring to the proposed Blomkamp production.
No one including Scott is trying to predict what Fox will do longterm / decades down the road.
Considering what Fox has done with the Alien and AVP franchises since Aliens, it's safe to say that anything is possible.
But that's kind of off topic isn't it?
From what I can see about this part of the AvPGalaxy site, it seems to discuss the A5 Neill Blomkamp project.
And that does not seem to be happening.
and your condescension is evidence of someone who never actually grew up but very much likes to look in the mirror and think they have...and yes I am a child. a 34 year old man child- who likes to laugh at pathetic online attempts to reinforce weak malformed egos. Its called being diplomatic-might wanna try it sometime your Lordship.
I will. thanks for so generously giving me permission to do so...What I said stands. Ridley Scott is not the Supreme Godhead of the Alien universe, and his word is not the bottom line. I'm not saying Alien 5 is a shoe-in just that there are many things that contribute to a studio's willingness or unwillingness to make a movie and that just because Ridley Scott says so doesn't mean his word is gospel. Chances are Alien 5 will happen...eventually. Maybe not helmed by Blomkamp. Maybe not with Weaver and Biehn from the shoulders down. But Rogue One has shown us that hollywood has no qualms about bringing back dead actors to star in movies, so the age of the actors no longer matters and as time goes on if the demand is high many things can be engineered that were once thought impossible...
You better be a child.
-Windebieste.
Many things can happen. If Ridley has a heart attack or just ceases to be a viable asset Fox may not see things his way...its still in the cards
"Definitely not happening" *Ridley Scott thumbs up*
Perfect post.
-Windebieste.
Oh, I get that way too well. I was referring to a certain portion of sic-fi action junkies and Alien(s) fans being stuck on Hicks and Newt.
That's why.
-Windebieste.
However, I'm sure that at some point down the line we will have a retcon, and then a reboot and then a remake... But for now we're safe
But I get it - for many people ALIENS is the best thing since sliced bread, and it's alluring mix of sic-fi and action combined with simplistic but highly likable characters and amazing special effects and pacing, just demands a sequel with more of the same. What I don't get is why we need Ripley, Hicks and Newt to get all of that.
OK, the argument is mixing what some fans want; (not a "Pseudo Alien movie"), with what the studio wants.
And the argument then moves to money, (the goal of the studio) and that Alien 5 (with Blomkamp) will make big box office.
- The evidence for this is that Alien franchise nostalgia (Ripley/Hicks) is somehow comparable to Star Wars nostalgia (cute robots, Leia/Solo)?
* Imo. The studio investing millions of dollars on some vague Alien nostalgia connection is not a safe bet.
- Ripley/Sigourney was in "Alien 3" and "Ressurection" which had poor financial performance.
There is no evidence that the mere appearance of Ripley would lead to "Alien", "Aliens" or even "Prometheus" box office results.
- And Hicks? I think he's dead. So is Newt.
* Why should the Fox studio risk funding a multimillion $ Alien film by Blomkamp?
- "District 9" (2009) was a big financial success due to the modest budget ($30 million) but Blomkamp can't figure out how to do a sequel.
(Double the budget to see the box office needed to pay for production costs. This estimate does not include marketing costs.)
- "Elysium" (2013) was a modest success with $286,140,700 worldwide box office and a $115 million budget.
- 'Chappie" (2015) probably just broke even after video sales. $102,069,268 worldwide box office with a $49 million budget.
- Financially each Blomkamp science fiction movie is doing worse.
He is a risky choice imo.
* Instead Fox sees that Ridley Scott has had two recent science fiction box office hits. And one was with an Alien franchise movie.
- "Prometheus" had $403,354,469 worldwide box office with a $130 million budget. This did much better financially than "Elysium".
- "The Martian"; $630,161,890 worldwide box office and a $108 million budget.
Scott's last SF movie was a blockbuster. "The Martian" numbers are in the range of "Interstellar" and any director who can be in the conversation with Christopher Nolan is going to be the safer bet.
* For the studio Scott is clearly the better choice over Blomkamp.
*Gives a dog Red Bull*
Just need hot snow now..
What's next? Hot snow rises up? Dogs start to fly?
It could be set on gateway station and detail the mundane life of Ripley having to learn a new job and getting her class II rating. Then Burke and Gorman knock on the door at the very end.
Totally agree. I'd love Blomkamp to make a new Alien film, but just leave Ripley and Hicks alone. That story is over. It was great, but it's done now.
What happened to "I'm waiting for official announcements" ?
Maybe with different actors.
I don't see a 75 year old Sigourney Weaver as Ripley. The same with Harrison Ford and Indiana Jones 5.
That's too bad because I would love to see what he could do with AvP. I'd rather have that from Blomkamp instead of Alien 5.
Thank God this Project has been put to rest. Finito. End of story.
-Windebieste.
What about Luke Scott? I heard a rumor that he might be directing the next Alien prequel.
I doubt that. Guillermo Del Toro wanted 175 Million USD for his Dream movie. Universal NEVER agrees with him.
Del Toro is a CULT director. He isn't James Cameron or Sir Ridley Scott whose can get 200 Millions. Studios NEVER give Huge budgets to lesser knowns like Guillermo and Neil.
Maybe I wouldn't mind seeing what he could offer in some way, but in the end It was very poor form on Blomkamp's behalf and he only has himself to blame.
Blomkamp ISN'T Abrahms. J.J. is very famous and people doesn't care about Neil.
Only we(few people) cared about Alien 5.
Be real. Sir Ridley Scott has more power than Guillermo Del Toro and Neil Blomkamp.
The movies of Guillermo Del Toro and Neil Blomkamp USUALLY are FAILURES at the box office. Those 2 NEVER made box office champions like THE MARTIAN.
An At The Mountains Of Madness film is all but dead thanks to Prometheus, and now Alien 5 is getting T-boned by the sequel. Damn you, FOX & Ridley!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sPbjPOgRtyA
Spoiler for the end of a series of Louis - the Louis character is under the assumption that he is about to land a deal to take over hosting David Lettermens massively popular late night talk show. He is strung along for the entire season and is being groomed to take over. In the end its revealed that he was just being used as a pawn so that the studio could renegotiate David Lettermans contract/salary by making him believe they had a popular youbd comedian ready to take over immediately.
In the case of Alien the studio dangled Blomkamp as a carrot in front of Ridley and said "you either hurry up and make Alien your next movie and Alien the shit out of it.......or we are going with this guy and hes doing Alien 5".
Case in point, I believe Blomkamp was just used as a pawn and the studio never had any intention of making Alien 5.