According to a new interview with Famous Monsters, James Cameron is unlikely to return for another Alien film. I know it probably goes without saying at this point but I’m sure it’s something that a lot of fans would still be eager to see. Cameron made the comment in a new interview with Famous Monsters as part of the various 30th anniversary (today!) celebrations.
The 286th issue of the magazine features a brand new interview conducted with James Cameron. A half hour segment of that interview with editor David Weiner was released as their 12th podcast and you can hear Cameron making the remark at around 28 minute mark.
While talking about how Aliens stands up today and how he’d have approached it differently with today’s technology, Cameron said: “would I want to make another Alien film tomorrow? No, I don’t think so.” He then teases a small possibility but then shortly rules it out completely: “unless someone could come with up with a spectacularly new concept.”
Weiner asks Cameron, straight to the point, if he wouldn’t rule out returning to the Alien franchise, if there was a compelling enough story. Cameron remarks that it is unlikely to happen as he’s got his hands full with the Avatar series: “Well, look…I’ve got my own kind of Alien world that I’m enslaved to now with the Avatar films, so I can pretty much rule that out.”
James Cameron unlikely to return for another Alien film. The comment comes from issue #286 of Famous Monsters.
With another 3 Avatar films planned, Cameron’s slate looks to be occupied by the science-fiction series for some time to come.
The last time Cameron was seriously involved in returning to an Alien film was back in the early 00’s when both he and Ridley Scott had been working on a concept for Alien 5. Cameron ultimately dropped work on the project when he found out Fox were moving forward with Paul Anderson’s Alien vs. Predator. Thanks to Omega Underground for the news.
I would like for the future, though:
2017 - Alien: Covenant/Prometheus 2
2018 - The Predator
2019 - Alien 5
2020 - Alien: Covenant 2/Prometheus 3
2021 - The Predator 2
2022 - Alien 6
2023 - Alien: Covenant 3/Prometheus 4
2024 - AVP 3
1. Alien 1979 (theatrical cut)
2. Aliens 1986 (Director's Cut in Theatres)
3. Predator 1987 (minus few technical goofs & scenes with old creature design)
4. Alien 3 1992 (set on Earth with Xenomorph infestation and ends movie series)
5. Aliens vs Predator 1994 (follows the "just" of the comic story, practical effects instead of CGI, and Rated R)
6. Alien Prequel 2001 (Cameron and Ridley making it, Sigourney is an Executive Producer, H.R. Giver and Stan Winston do the design and effects, story sets up the events of Alien 1979, scary & self contained like Alien 1979 and less action than Aliens 1986 and Alien 3 2001)
It's not rocket science! why on Earth didn't this happen!
Fox had no idea the pair were working on a project - and Cameron mentioned in an interview, one time, that Scott never bothered to get back in contact with him about it. Seems like Cameron was the one who was mainly trying to get it done, but that he didn't notify Fox about it.
There was no indication that Fox would have refused simultaneously filming it, however. Cameron only ever said he decided to stop writing and then, later, regretted doing so, because the AVP project wasn't nearly like he thought it was going to be. From that, it seems like he had never read the initial comic (which is ironic, as the likeness of one of the characters was based upon him), because, before that, he used to say he thought it could only ever turn into a messy 'Godzilla'-style enterprise.
This makes me think that, had he been aware the AVP concept was aimed at being on a far smaller scale than he assumed, he might have simply continued with what he had been writing.
The Irish spell it with an 'e', just get an Irish passport and you'll be fine.
I have to wonder how successful those sequels are actually going to be. Yeah, Avatar was massively successful but I very rarely see people with positive stuff to say about it now-a-days.
You must've had too much whiskey, mate.
truly Fabulous information
Oh, I get Valaqueen a lot
I'd correct their name to 'Whiskybrewer' as well, but maybe they're Irish
LOL Whiskey's type gave me a good chuckle.
FTFY
I ordered mine after posting this.
I wasn't a fan of Avatar. It looked pretty enough but I find it overly long and boring. It's been a few years since I rewatched it though. Might give it another try.
Thank God we have a director like Ridley Scott wanting and making 2-3 more Alien movies...
" Ripley realizes her dreams have played a role in what's happening she evacuates and confines herself to a cell, but inevitably she will meet her nemesis face to face again."
Than Ripley 8 was a chosen one in the A5 draft? She can control events by dreaming?
What if she dream about turn back in time and save Hicks and Newt in some kind of Interstellar way? Maybe that power she will achive in A.Covenant from her mother.
I've always wondered what we could have ended up with between the two of them collaborating.
Its a shame James Cameron isn't doing smaller scaled practical effects movies, he's caught up in the Avatar world, that film had alot of hype around it for its renovating effects and 3D experience and it sure made a name for itself breaking 2 billion at the box office, however many movie goers dismiss it for the story being your basic native American vs white invaders Dances with Wolves set in a space epic.
Though seeing the Avatar aftermath and lack of enthusiasm has you wondering how well the sequels will do. Cameron pulled off two of the greatest sequels of all time Aliens and Terminator 2. He may have some gimmick at hand that will give in an advantage to renewal that enthusiasm for Avatar and blow us away becoming another great hit. Or not. :-
"From the directors of Alien, Aliens, Titanic and Gladiator."
Throw Arnold in there like James said.
Gangbusters.
Not much they can do without the go ahead from Fox.
Fox wanted AvP and that was a deal breaker for both directors.
Thanks Valaqueen. Some interesting tidbits there. Definitely a case of Ridley wanted to explore the Aliens origins and Cameron wanted Earth War
I'm fine with that. No need to overdo it. Ridley Scott should take note.
Xan21 - I very much care about the 'Avatar' sequels. And it's 4 not 3.
That's a really really great universe (the most creative one I can think of in ages) that the first film set up with a simple story. I really look forward to see where James Cameron takes it with this very ambitious project of shooting 4 films simultaneously.
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/ridley-scott-and-james-camerons-alien-5/
That's pretty much all there is to find.
Wonder if any of the details ended up in Prometheus and Covenant