Fede Álvarez's Upcoming 'Alien' Movie Receives Official Release Date

Alien • Fede Álvarez • Alien: Covenant • The Walt Disney Company • 20th Century Studios • Horror • Ridley Scott: After a period of uncertainty and relative quiet for the Alien franchise, following the underwhelming reception of Alien: Covenant and Disney's acquisition of Fox, fans can now anticipate the return of the series with Fede Álvarez's upcoming Alien movie, set to release on August 16, 2024.

Although the film has yet to receive an official title, it appeared as Alien: Romulus in a production listing by the Film & Television Industry Alliance. However, this could be a provisional name. While specific plot details remain scarce, a synopsis provided by 20th Century Studios describes the film as the ninth installment in the beloved and enduring series, featuring a group of young individuals who find themselves confronting the most terrifying life form in the universe on a distant world. The cast includes Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux, David Jonsson, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. Regrettably, Sigourney Weaver will not be returning to reprise her iconic role, as she firmly stated that her time in space has come to an end.

This film marks a fresh start for the franchise, following a series of disappointments with Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant and its precursor Prometheus, which received lukewarm reviews. Many fans expressed concerns over the direction of Scott's prequels, feeling that they demystified the iconic alien creature and burdened it with an unnecessary origin story. In contrast, the new film aims to return to the franchise's horror roots, with Álvarez, known for his work on the terrifying Evil Dead reboot/sequel (2013) and Don't Breathe (2016), taking the directorial helm. It is important to note that this upcoming movie is not connected to Scott's films.

In addition to the film, there is also an Alien TV series in the works, separate from Álvarez's project. The series will be led by Noah Hawley and will feature Sydney Chandler (Don't Worry Darling). Although no release date has been announced for the TV series, fans can look forward to experiencing the Xenomorph on the big screen once again when the new film arrives in theaters on August 16, 2024.