28 Years Later director Danny Boyle explains why he turned down Alien

28 Years Later, the highly anticipated apocalyptic zombie sequel officially releases in theaters today (June 20th) and director Danny Boyle sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss the new film, his plans for a trilogy, but also a look back over his career as a filmmaker. It's revealed that back in the 90s, Boyle was actually approached to direct the fourth Alien movie, Alien: Resurrection - but he ultimately turned it down. Read on to find out why...

THR: After Trainspotting, you are suddenly an in-demand director. Movies come your way, and one of them was for the fourth Alien movie. How seriously did you consider it?

Danny Boyle: I met Sigourney Weaver and Winona Ryder, who were attached to it. So obviously it was pretty serious. They were wonderful. But it was the early days of the CG crossover. That moment where it was transitioning. And I couldn’t handle the CG. I was very passionate about it, because I loved the Alien idea. I just suddenly had a rare moment of clarity, thinking, “You are not the right guy for this.” I went off to make A Life Less Ordinary instead. That was 20th Century folks as well. I didn’t do Alien and I went and made this flop for them instead! But it’s water under the bridge.

As fate would have it, after Boyle turned it down, the film then went to Jean-Pierre Jeunet who directed the picture, only to have Resurrection flop as well, making it the least successful entry in the Alien franchise.

Would we have gotten a different Alien: Resurrection had Danny Boyle taken the reigns? Arguably Resurrection is by all accounts the worst of the franchise if you ask any Alien fan, with even Ridley Scott having thought the entire IP was cooked after it came out. Could Boyle have saved it? We'll never know.

Catch 28 Years Later in theaters now!

Alien: Romulus

Release: August 16, 2024

Rating: 3.2/5 (Based on 5 reviews)

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