A:C sequel: when?

Not soon enough! Wish they'd sell out and get on the Star Wars/Disney train and do yearly installments. THAT would be epic. RS could Executive Produce, and various GREAT interested directors could follow the storylines. The Universe is wide open now.

Listed as being in Pre-production with a 2019 release. That's what it says, but an official statement remains to be seen. However, this is a good sign. 

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000631/#director

Oh, 2019 isn't too far off! I just don't want to have to wait another FIVE years again!

20th Century Fox must be analyzing the data right now. I am sure they are not happy about having a big franchise deflated like this. I don't think they want to shut it down, but they will take measures. I don't think they will authorize another protagonic role for Fassbender; they will look for a stronger lead in a more classic showdown with the xenomorph. If The Predator does good, probably they will take note and they will incorporate some of that style into the new Alien movie.

They better keep Fassbender on as the "New Ripley" of the prequel series. David is the most interesting character in the franchise by far. I'm down for a stronger lead opposing him but nobody is stronger than Fassbender atm. I thought Katherine as Daniels was pretty good but I don't think she'll survive into Awakening. 

joylitt Interesting observation. After watching RS interviews and trying to look at it in a big picture way, I wonder if it is being written into a corner somehow. I think if Awakening does not directly link to Alien, the franchise will get diluted. There could be room for the Engineer aspect to go in its own direction as Facehuggers! has suggested with a couple short stories. 

I don't know, if the next movie was to take David from the main stage, it would just contribute once more to the inconsistency of this franchise. I not only want them to stick with David as the main character, but I think they need to. Otherwise, it will be like Shaw and the Engineers treamtnet in A:C. 

And about the actualy topic, I assume that the film will come a little later in 2019 or Spring 2020. The official announcement may come this fall. I suppose after the DVD release date makes some sense 

I used to work for a company that conducted surveys over the phone. I remember we would ask people things like "Would you like Johnny Depp as the lead in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"? Or would you like Nicolas Cage for National Treasure?" This time they will do the same. In the early 2000's those were big names. Taking on account the type of people we used to call, if I were to ask them now "Would you like Michael Fassbender as the lead in an Alien movie", they would reply "Who is that? Fassbender cannot carry the franchise, that is obvious.

Wasn't Fassbender unanimously praised for his dual roles in both Prometheus and Covenant? Even those who didn't particularly like the film thought Fassbender did wonderful. Considering Ridley likes Fassbender/David, I don't see him taking him out as the lead considering he literally said he was the Ripley for the prequel films. I agree with @cuponator3000 in that it will create inconsistencies and will show that they're making it up as they go as opposed to the plan already set in motion.

Lawrence of Arabia cuponator3000 They can do a spinoff if there is enough demand for David, but in spite of him being a great actor, Fassbender needs to be pushed into the background for the franchise to survive.

Lawrence of Arabia Yes exactly, he was universally praised. But if you conduct a survey that is the wrong question to ask.   They made that mistake once, they won't do it again. I bet that is why Noomi Rapace did not come back for Covenant.

Why does he need to be pushed to the side? His story is vital to the franchise. Some people may not like how his story changes the mythos pre-Prometheus but I think it enriches it.

joylitt Your logic doesn't make much sense either, because he isn't well-known he isn't right to carry the franchise? Wasn't Sigourney an unknown before Alien?

Lawrence of Arabia It's not my logic. It is the business industry logic. Let me put it this way: imagine Roy Batty as the protagonist in Blade Runner. Even though he is awesome, the movie would not have been the same. Same here.

joylitt You do know that Alien:Covenant isn't a reboot or replacing Alien (1979) right? I get your point but they aren't casting Fassbender as Ripley, even though that would be hilarious.

I'm gonna have to strongly agree with Lawrence of Arabia here, David is the most interesting character right now. They really need to keep him. ...Maybe even Walter, too!

If one of those survey people calls me, I'll definitely give Fassbender my vote :P

Fassbender just needs to keep up his health and eat a healthy diet full of antioxidants or whatever, so he wont age too much and can continue being a believable android. Especially if production is going to keep taking so long between release dates... 

I know changing direction again might seem sketchy. But the damage is done. Covenant will probably be the "Terminator Salvation" of the franchise, something that the studios would gladly brush under the rug. So they need to study very well the next move if they don't want to get a "Genisys" next. The good thing is that only half of the people who watched Prometheus has watched Covenant, and many among those did not like the direction it has taken. So I guess the studios will shake things up a little bit for the next installment.

joylitt I'm glad you're not in charge lol If there was anything wrong with Covenant, it wasn't the story or Fassbender. Mainly the complaints seem to be leveled at the Covenant crew and a needed explanation of the life cycle of the Protomorph. I'm not frazzled by the Covenant crew because they were not expecting what had happened and a lot of civilians make dumb decisions in the heat of the moment but damn do I need an explanation for the Lope facehugger! Hopefully Awakening gives us the answers we need or the Covenant Blu-ray/DVD commentary lol

We see that the Lope facehugger closes its legs and dies next to the wall after the action. It shows that it has done its job. Full stop. :) 

Ati Exactly, he was just excited to see Lope and pre-maturely ejaculated lmao I do love how the two Gay men in movie were the ones to give "birth", sick humor Ridley!