Maybe there's a future after all...

Yes it's true the franchise is hanging in there (for now at least), There's only so long a franchise can depend on other media. Yes it's also true Alien has managed to release a movie every 5 or so years, but with continued diminished box office returns. I hate to keep making it all about the money, but ultimately that's what keeps any franchise rolling. As much as I like and care about 3 and Resurrection, they were cash in sequels that didn't draw the same crowds Alien and Aliens did. The AVP's in the 2000's were basically reboots before that concept became really popular. Again thanks to the dismal quality these films failed to invigorate either Alien or Predator. Both series have kept separate on the big screen in the past decade. Prometheus was a more blatant reboot because Fox insisted on rewrites to separate it from Alien. Remember the confusing advertising campaign? The whole is it a prequel or isn't it? Fox I think knew Alien had been sagging for quite some time and tried there hand at something new. And when that failed to impress (at least initially) it was back to Alien which yet again failed to make an impact.

Alien as a film is at a crossroads on where to go next. Will Ridley Scott make his third and apparently largely unassociated prequel? Does Blomkamp get his Alien 5? Or will it be Giler and Hill's treatment? Or does James Cameron back his own 3 concept much like he did Terminator Dark Fate? Or does Disney just straight up reboot? (what I think they'll do sadly) I dont think Alien's prospects as a film have ever been so uncertain. Will there be another movie? Most likely yes eventually. The real question is what will it be and how long will it take. But suffice to say a balls out action epic is not a likely approach.

While I'm at I must add other Alien media is seemingly on the ropes. There have only been 3 major console Alien games in the past ten years, and 6 years since the last. We've only been given a few mobile offerings. I believe this is because Aliens Colonial Marines was a over hyped train wreck of a game, which lead to the excellent Alien Isolation to underperform. Yes Cold Iron is making a game but it's been known about for three years and we only occasionally get vague updates. I feel Alien is largely dead on the video game front.

Comics have been thriving but I also feel this is coming to end due to the transition from Dark Horse to Marvel. Dark Horse has been a steady home for Alien for 30 plus years. Marvel's talent pool seems more than a bit weak these days if their Star Wars comics are anything to go off of. Even the super heroes are at a weak point, the average Avengers issue only sells 400,000 copies a month. That may sound like a lot but it really isn't. I also can't forget that nasty business with Marvel tracing over existing art work for Star Wars, and it looks like its already happening with Alien. Check this Wolverine vs xenomorph and compare it to this Alien advertising image from Isolation. Marvel aren't what they once were and I think It'll possibly affect the novels as well. The Alien RPG along with merchandise such as Necca figures are what seems to keep Alien afloat at the moment.

If people say Isolation was not scary, they likely watched a playthrough and never played it themselves. That was exhausting and I just wanted it to be over- sort of how Ellen may have felt. It was beautifully brutal.

The franchise can go different directions and be good. I would like to just see good characters dealing with the mythos. Kind of old school, but not getting into flute playing, axe grinding, and cabin building bull shit. GO BACK TO THE BASICS. I vomit a bit by typing this, but as BigDave once said, MAGA- Make Alien Great Again.

As a fan of both Prometheus and Covenant I just may admit that Isolation was my favorite Alien of the decade. I not too long ago finished 5th play through on nightmare difficulty lol. That was a challenge that felt like authentic Alien. 

What I want from a story and characters is something Aliens Defiance. Now that was damn f@$&ing fine story. I highly recommend that comic. And it was about a colonial marine but wasn't a ridiculously action heavy story either. Defiance has been my role model for what a new Alien movie can be.

Update

Marvel's Alien comics have been announced today for a March release. Guess we'll see how that goes.

Update

Marvel's Alien comics have been announced today for a March release. Guess we'll see how that goes.