Ridley Scott Alien sequel: the director has gone back into the franchise, rewriting the next film after calling 2024’s Alien: Romulus “OK”. He told French outlet AlloCiné, as reported by IGN, that the series “needs some help” — and that he is the one supplying it.
“Actually, I suddenly went back and got involved. The one that just came out [2024’s Alien: Romulus], it was OK. I think it needs some help. So, I’ve gone back in.”
Ridley Scott, speaking to AlloCiné
Romulus was the franchise’s soft reboot: Rain (Cailee Spaeny), the android Andy (David Jonsson) and Kay (Isabela Merced) against the usual swarm. Critics took to it — 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, an 85% audience score, and an 8/10 from IGN. Scott’s verdict is the more pointed for what he told director Fede Álvarez after an early cut of that film: reportedly “f**king great”.
Scott calls it “the one that just came out”, which could also cover 2025’s Alien: Earth, the FX series that drew a 94% critics’ score. The context leans towards the film. Either way, he wants more of a hand in what happens next.
Ridley Scott Alien sequel: the David thread
Scott has long wanted to close the loop he opened with Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), and a film starring Michael Fassbender’s android David was already in development, as tbreak reported earlier. He now says he has “a footprint” for it, and comicbookmovie carried the same confirmation.
“We did Prometheus and Covenant, so I’m picking up where we left in Covenant. [David], who now thinks he’s Ozymandias, is going [circles finger by head].”
Ridley Scott
The AI thread carries the theme. “I like the fact that AI is going off the rails,” Scott said. “If we go AI, the moment we discover it’s off the rails, it’s too late. It could switch every digital thing off in the world like that.”
Where the franchise stands
A proper Alien: Romulus sequel was announced in November 2024, with Álvarez initially in talks to direct. By September 2025 he was reported as producer-only. Whether Scott’s rewrite is that sequel, the David film, or both, he has not said, and no release date exists for any of it.
In the meantime he is promoting The Dog Stars, his post-apocalyptic adaptation starring Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin, which landed in cinemas on August 28. Alien: Earth, meanwhile, is filming its second season with Peter Dinklage.
Why is Ridley Scott returning to the Alien franchise?
Scott told French outlet AlloCiné that 2024’s Alien: Romulus was ‘OK’ and that the franchise ‘needs some help’, so he has gone back in and is rewriting the next film.
Will Ridley Scott’s next Alien film continue Prometheus and Alien: Covenant?
Yes. Scott says he is picking up where Alien: Covenant left off, with Michael Fassbender’s android David, who now thinks he’s Ozymandias, exploring an AI theme.
Is Alien: Romulus getting a sequel?
A sequel was announced in November 2024. Fede Álvarez, who directed Romulus, was initially in talks to direct but was reported as producer-only by September 2025. No release date has been announced.
