After years of anticipation and mixed messages from various people involved it would seem that Neill Blomkamp's vision of an Alien 5 are completely dead in the water. The enthusiastic director had shared some pretty exciting concept art back in 2015, which sparked a multitude of excitement amongst Alien fans worldwide.
The story of Alien 5 was going to resurrect Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley and Michael Biehn as Cpl. Dwayne Hicks in a fresh, ret-con sequel to James Cameron's Aliens. The film was going to introduce us to an adult Newt who would carry on the legacy of Xenomorph-battling badass heroine following Weaver's passing of the torch. Alien 5 would also essentially write off Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection as "bad dreams" according to early plot descriptions and interviews. However, despite the growing support Neill received for his project, it would seem as though Fox have very little interest in pursuing his dreams, at least for now.
Speaking to The Verge, Blomkamp explained:
The Verge: You’ve been asked about this a lot, but I’m guessing that your Alien concept is completely done, right?
Blomkamp: I think it’s totally dead, yes. That would be an accurate assumption at this point.
It’s sad. I spent a long time working on that, and I feel like it was really pretty awesome. But politically, the way it’s gone now, and the way that it all is — it’s just not going to live.
The Verge: As in studio politics?
Blomkamp: Yeah. Ridley [Scott] was one of my idols growing up. He’s so talented and he’s made this film that really set me off in a direction. I want to just be as respectful and not go stamping around in this world that he created. I think that if the circumstances were different, and I didn’t feel like I was getting too close to something that he obviously feels a massive personal connection to, that things that may have played out differently. But I did want to be as respectful as possible.
During press rounds for Alien: Covenant, Ridley put to rest early assumptions that Blomkamp had provided a script for Alien 5, alluding that in reality only a few pages of concepts were provided to the studio. Naturally, Scott boarded as an executive producer just in case the project did take flight, so he could ensure no contradictions between his lineup of Prometheus sequels and Blomkamp's planned spin off.
Unfortunately for fans who were looking forward to a revisitation of Cameron's Alien world, the likelihood of Alien 5 entering legitimate production any time soon is fairly slim to none as it stands.
Fox do still own the rights to Blomkamp's Alien project and we know through our own sources that various artists were commissioned to produce work for the potential film. Will Fox ever consider Alien 5 as a spin off once Ridley Scott's Prometheus sequels / Alien prequels have run their course? It's certainly a possibility, especially depending how the public react to the next Alien: Covenant sequels. But alas, as things stand currently, it would seem Alien 5 will remain in hypersleep for some time.
What do you think of Blomkamp's remarks? Are you glad or sad that Fox have indefinitely shelved the project? Sound off your thoughts and opinions below. Thanks to AvPGalaxy for the heads up.
