Any thoughts on why?
Neill Blomkamp's Alien V/
Alternate: Alien³/Aliens: sequel?
I don't think we'll ever know for sure but my guess' regardless of praise 20th Century Fox felt it leaned uncomfortably once more into Resurrection's bizarre territory judging by the suit concept art.
He kept aksing for more money for the production.
Fox said "No."
End of story.
-Windebieste.
From Blomkamp's comments it would seem to because of Scott's involvement.
My own guess is that a big reason would be Fox felt uncomfortable bankrolling 2 Alien films at once.
Quote from: windebieste on Apr 05, 2020, 01:17:51 AM
He kept aksing for more money for the production.
Fox said "No."
End of story.
-Windebieste.
:D
And they lived happily ever after
I think he could interfere with Ridley. And if Alien 5 were successful, we would see Alien 6, not AC.
It's funny, but Ridley was pretty passive about Prometheus's sequel until Blomkamp appeared with another project.
Chappie happened.
Blomkamp was doing concept art and writing the script and then Chappie came out, was savaged and flopped and Fox lost faith. Blomkamp was was no longer the guy who did District 9 but the guy who followed District 9 with a disappointment and a dud.
We also have no idea if the script was really up to scratch or if it was financially feasible to do it.
Chappie had been out for a while when A5 was announced ???
Blomkamp first hinted he was doing Alien in early 2015, just before Chappie was released. I'm
pretty sure he already had a deal with Fox in place to develop his script and he was not really soliciting through Instagram.
I have heard that Blomkamp likes doing things his own way with the implication that he wanted more control than Fox was willing to give.
No idea if that is true, however.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Apr 06, 2020, 07:58:41 AM
From Blomkamp's comments it would seem to because of Scott's involvement.
My own guess is that a big reason would be Fox felt uncomfortable bankrolling 2 Alien films at once.
For what its it's worth, there was at least some limited degree of communication between the two parties. Scott was aware of what Blomkamp was doing, and only asked Blomkamp to change one thing because it would have contradicted what his story was doing.
What was the one thing?
I imagine something to do with the Derelict.
Despite liking Blomkamps stuff, his ideas on Alien 5 were as bad as the ideas we got. I think Ripley in an Alien suit was enough for fox to say naw bruh.
There is a big whole galaxy out there to f**k around in, and people are hung up on like three different locales and five characters.
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 07, 2020, 12:00:23 AM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Apr 06, 2020, 07:58:41 AM
From Blomkamp's comments it would seem to because of Scott's involvement.
My own guess is that a big reason would be Fox felt uncomfortable bankrolling 2 Alien films at once.
For what its it's worth, there was at least some limited degree of communication between the two parties. Scott was aware of what Blomkamp was doing, and only asked Blomkamp to change one thing because it would have contradicted what his story was doing.
It was comments Blomkamp made after that that made it sound like like he was pinning it on Scott.
Quote"They seemed really into it and Ridley came on as producer and then it just unraveled."
---------
"It's very difficult to speak about on several levels because Ridley created Alien. It was something that inspired me deeply. I got into film because of it. Everything that happened with my script and with the way the film collapsed – it's hard to talk about it without it seeming like I'm bashing him which is like one of my idols to get into film. It's a super strange psychological place but films go down in Hollywood all the time. That's just essentially, I think, what happened and it sucks for me...It's not that it sucks for Sigourney, it's not going to make any difference to her, but I think she really did like the story because it allowed Ripley to...it really felt like a cool third film."
Quote from: Fiendishly Inventive on Apr 07, 2020, 01:26:56 AM
I imagine something to do with the Derelict.
Although there may be changes during the development of a movie, it's a little odd because it looks like Covenant is trying to get away from it. I mean the Engineers feel undermined in the sequel :P
The blue man group got no love last time.
Blomkamp has directed no feature film since Chappie and has only been doing shorts. He was never the correct man to lead the Alien franchise to new heights. Im not saying that AC was a breakthrough though.
I'd really like to see Blomkamp's script for it along with all the unreleased concept art. I agree he was the wrong man for it, especially for the story and dialogue writing. He would have been great for the visual effects though.
Well, that's what screenplay writer is for, I guess
It would seem that Blomkamp likes writing his own stuff and only really works with his missus.
didn't ridley scott go as far as saying there was no script?
can hicks or sm confirm?
No idea.
I remember someone saying there was no script, just a detailed treatment or synopsis.
And who said that ? The man least interested in Alien 5 being done?
I'm sorry, I like the prequels but I think Ridley had a hand in burrying Blomkamp's project.
1) I don't remember, but I don't think it was Scott.
2) I don't think it's a secret that Scott was partially responsible for the project getting pulled.
Aliens is just as loved by fans as Alien. Actually maybe Aliens wins in that one. I wonder if Colonial Marines are the key in order to make these movies box office success. I mean, a lot of merchandising is based on this particular element of the lore. Prometheus had a decent box office, but it's not really an Alien movie, and its success seems to be due to a "perfect storm" so to speak.
Every movie in the franchise has been a box office success but only one featured colonial marines. Two films were "disappointments" -- A3 and Covenant. Even then that's because Fox didn't care much about international box office in the 90s (A3 actually made more than Aliens globally) and they hoped for more from Covenant.
We can stretch that to three disappointments with AvPR, which still turned a profit. AvP was the most successful Alien or Predator film on release.
So no, colonial marines are in no way the "key".
It's just that they seem to be very popular, but fair enough.
No doubt they're popular, they're just not a magic ingredient.
People wouldn't suddenly love Resurrection if the military had been the USCM, for example.
Quote from: SiL on Apr 28, 2020, 11:01:28 PM
I remember someone saying there was no script, just a detailed treatment or synopsis.
It would be cool to read that treatment just out of curiosity. I hope he releases it one day.
Aliens in 1986 was beaten in the box office by something called Crocodile Dundee. What the next alien film needs is jolly swagman and a billabong.
TC
That's not a pulse rifle. This is a pulse rifle.
Quote from: TC on Apr 29, 2020, 11:05:56 AM
Aliens in 1986 was beaten in the box office by something called Crocodile Dundee. What the next alien film needs is jolly swagman and a billabong.
TC
^ I'm sorry TC. You were too late and your condescending is no longer "useful", since I agree with Sil :laugh:
And as I pointed out before, after Cameron's sequel the Colonial Marines reached a "cult status" among the fans, to so to speak. Plus, plenty of the video games, toys, comic books & novels are a reminiscence of Aliens.
And while people are not going to love an Alien movie just because the USCM, it might help to sell tickets, among other things of course. After all, it is not so much a matter of reception. Prometheus made money, and yet it is not a much-loved movie today. :)
I think I would agree that the Colonial marines are one of the most broadly appealing parts of the franchise for mainstream audiences, especially between 86-95.
However I think the name has been run through the mud a bit especially with the game A:CM, atleast among nerd/geek culture anyway.
I don't think they have the same cachet they used too.
Quote from: SiL on Apr 28, 2020, 11:01:28 PM
I remember someone saying there was no script, just a detailed treatment or synopsis.
Ridley claimed there was no script. Cameron and Weaver claimed there was.
Ridley also said:
Quote"We have Neill Blomkamp's Alien, which will be out in 2017. We just have the first [screenplay] draft in so far but it looks pretty good."
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=53386.msg2079840#msg2079840 (https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=53386.msg2079840#msg2079840)
Quote from: SiL on Apr 29, 2020, 12:53:32 AM
AvP was the most successful Alien or Predator film on release.
How do you figure that?
Alien and Aliens made back approx X10 their budget at the box office.
Predator made back just over x5 times it's budget.
Alien vs Predator only made back about x3 times it's budget.
Quote from: Immortan Jonesy on Apr 29, 2020, 01:19:37 PM
And as I pointed out before, after Cameron's sequel the Colonial Marines reached a "cult status" among the fans, to so to speak.
It's a unique thing to have a sequel be what defines a film series and even crazier that James Cameron managed it twice:
Aliens with the guns blazing Colonial Marines, and
Terminator 2 with the good guy T-800.
Quote from: Janek on Apr 18, 2020, 02:04:35 PM
Blomkamp has directed no feature film since Chappie and has only been doing shorts. He was never the correct man to lead the Alien franchise to new heights. Im not saying that AC was a breakthrough though.
AC was more of a breakdown.
The shorts look great. I say let the man have a crack at the Aliens sequel, but please, no Ripley in an Alien suit.
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Apr 29, 2020, 04:00:03 PM
How do you figure that?
As in it made the most at the time.
QuoteAlien and Aliens made back approx X10 their budget at the box office.
Alien almost did,
Aliens didn't. Its estimated budget was $18.5 million, earnings $130m.
QuoteAlien vs Predator only made back about x3 times it's budget.
True, but it was a substantially bigger budget. And at the last, it was a financial success without colonial marines.
Quote from: irn on Apr 29, 2020, 05:23:55 PM
Quote from: Immortan Jonesy on Apr 29, 2020, 01:19:37 PM
And as I pointed out before, after Cameron's sequel the Colonial Marines reached a "cult status" among the fans, to so to speak.
It's a unique thing to have a sequel be what defines a film series and even crazier that James Cameron managed it twice: Aliens with the guns blazing Colonial Marines, and Terminator 2 with the good guy T-800.
I'd make the argument that the "guns blazing Colonial Marines" concept has really only defined the franchise outside of the films (and even then, most of the best recent Alien EU properties [this being my opinion of course - I'm referring to
Isolation,
The Cold Forge, and
Phalanx] have not used that concept). In terms of the film franchise proper,
Aliens really didn't set the course for further Colonial Marines stories at all, and as it stands today in 2020, it is still the only film out of the six to utilize that concept at all.
Quote from: SiL on Apr 29, 2020, 09:05:13 PM
Alien almost did, Aliens didn't. Its estimated budget was $18.5 million, earnings $130m.
Wikipedia has Aliens' production budget at $17–18 million and the box office at $131.3–183.3 million. Given Hollywood accounting I'd say the $17 million production budget and the 183.3 million box office is probably closest to the mark. Either way, it still far outperformed AvP.
QuoteTrue, but it was a substantially bigger budget. And at the last, it was a financial success without colonial marines.
Not that much bigger when you adjust the production budget for inflation. And even then the box office takings was still similar to Aliens without adjusting for inflation (which would make a big difference over a period of 18 years).
One could argue that Prometheus was the most successful film of all considering it made $403.4 million, but when you reckon in it's huge production and advertising budget (plus inflation) it's performance isn't that impressive.
That trailer for prometheus still the best ever
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Apr 29, 2020, 09:35:45 PM
Wikipedia has Aliens' production budget at $17–18 million and the box office at $131.3–183.3 million.
Box Office Mojo lists earnings as $131M from release. The extra is probably re-releases.
Quotebut when you reckon in it's huge production and advertising budget (plus inflation) it's performance isn't that impressive.
The average Marvel film "only" makes back 4-5 times its budget, but when your budget is $200 million, nobody's arguing
The Blair Witch Project or
Paranormal Activity were greater successes.
Quote from: SiL on Apr 29, 2020, 09:05:13 PM
True, but it was a substantially bigger budget. And at the last, it was a financial success without colonial marines.
Not when you factor in inflation. AVP was not a rip roaring success in the same way that Alien and Aliens had been. That's why AVPR was given such a low budget. Paul Anderson did one thing right on AVP. He made it
look like money. It really wasn't, though.
Quote from: 426Buddy on Apr 29, 2020, 09:39:47 PM
That trailer for prometheus still the best ever
Never watched a film trailer so much in my life! Oh, what could have been...
Quote from: OpenMaw on Apr 30, 2020, 12:58:02 AM
Not when you factor in inflation.
If you factor in inflation it took until
Prometheus for a movie to earn more than
Alien even with increasing budgets (again, adjusted for inflation). It's been diminishing returns almost all the way down.
But all of this is truly besides the point of what the post was about in the first place. I get it. AvP maybe didn't earn as much if you factor in a bunch of shit. Whatever. The point was that it was still a financial successful and didn't have Marines. Can we move the f**k on already?
Oh, nobody's denying that AvP didn't make money (Marines or no), we were just pointing out that it certainly wasn't "the most successful Alien or Predator film on release".
I suspect you were just trying to fudge the numbers so you can get to make that new AvP flick. Yeah, don't you deny it! :P
Quote from: SiL on Apr 30, 2020, 01:28:09 AM
If you factor in inflation it took until Prometheus for a movie to earn more than Alien even with increasing budgets (again, adjusted for inflation). It's been diminishing returns almost all the way down.
But all of this is truly besides the point of what the post was about in the first place. I get it. AvP maybe didn't earn as much if you factor in a bunch of shit. Whatever. The point was that it was still a financial successful and didn't have Marines. Can we move the f**k on already?
When you factor in a bunch of the
important details it wasn't that successful, that's my point. I certainly wasn't trying to atagonise, you Sil. I'm just saying, If we're going to measure a films financial success as the ultimate success, you have to factor in inflation, the time of release, the state of the economy, and what the competition was. AvP's lack of success is why AvP:R was a borderline direct-to-dvd release and skirted by teetering on that edge of absolute schlock.
I am both disagreeing and agreeing. Absolutely true, the marines are not a marker for success. AvP wasn't the marine-absent success to hold up as proof of that, though. The real truth is, we haven't had that success yet.
One last thing on financial success in this series. The only reason Prometheus strikes so high is "Director Ridley Scott returns to Alien franchise" being all over the place. HUGE, TOWERING, UNBELIEVABLE hype. Everybody was going to see that movie.
I don't think success is objectively measured in financial gain, though. If we're talking engaging, enduring, fun, exciting, intelligent stories... Then, yeah, the last time we had a truly great, well-crafted film in this series with a coherent plot, relatable characters, and a solid beginning, middle and, end. It
was the one with the marines.
Alien 3 is a beautifully shot mess. Resurrection is a joke. AVP and AVP:R are boring and trashy. Prometheus, meanders beautifully. Alien Covenant is what Alien could have been if directed by someone other than Ridley Scott, ironically enough.
The only way for us to know if Neill Blomkamp would have been a genuine success is to actually see what he wrote. Who knows, if he was inspired and passionate enough about the project he might have had a brilliant pitch that would have revitalized the whole franchise and been the next great movie in the franchise after Aliens...
...I wouldn't bet on that one, though.
I still remain more curious about what Blomkamp's pre-Ripley pitch was, before his conversion with Sigourney on the set of Chappie.
And even more than that, I am curious about what Blomkamp/Ed Neumeier's Robocop Returns would have been, as that franchise feels like something much more suited to Blomkamp's style.
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 30, 2020, 08:24:28 PM
I am curious about what Blomkamp/Ed Neumeier's Robocop Returns would have been, as that franchise feels like something much more suited to Blomkamp's style.
Defintely. It's a shame that he left the project. Blomkamp entering the
Alien series raised some concerns but
Robocop is something that could really benefit from him.