A new Alien movie is in the works at Hulu and honestly…we’re kind of on the fence. Yes, we’re glad that Ridley Scott is set to return to produce. He directed the original movie starring Sigourney Weaver back in 1979. He also returned for Prometheus in 2012 and Alien: Covenant in 2017. And even though the 2012 and 2017 movies weren’t the best, they built upon the xenomorph story and brought in a lot of new fans.
Our worry doesn’t stem from Fede Álvarez coming on to direct and write this stand-alone for this franchise. He’s proven himself capable with Don’t Breathe and Evil Dead, two movies that were not our cup of tea but were well received by audiences for the way that it pushed the limits of filmmaking. And just recently he brought to life another iteration of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. He knows what he’s doing and will do so again with this untitled Alien project.
The biggest problem that we see with this new movie is the fact that it feels like there is nothing else to talk about in the Alien world. We’ve jumped forwards and backward plenty of times to tell every facet of this monstrous tale. And it feels like nostalgia more than anything at a time where it would be great to see some original ideas instead of another remake or sequel. Plus the thought of it not being released in theaters to enjoy on the big screens hurts the soul. Sorry, Hulu.
The only thing that gives us solace or a small spark of hope is the fact that according to The Hollywood Reporter, Álvarez is a “rabid fan of the franchise and casually pitched a take to [Ridley] Scott many years ago.” The Alien franchise is expansive and it’s important to have an actual fan behind the wheel who impressed the director himself of the original 1979 movie. But honestly, here’s hoping we’re wrong. Here’s hoping Álvarez does a good job. Because we want Álvarez to succeed.
Haven’t watched the OG Alien in a while? Check out the classic trailer below: