MOVIE NEWS – Fede Álvarez, the visionary filmmaker behind last year’s hit Alien: Romulus, has officially confirmed that work on the sequel is already underway, with hopes to start shooting before the end of the year, as reported by Collider. Álvarez also teased that he plans to “venture into truly uncharted waters for the franchise”, promising an even grander cinematic experience than its predecessor.

The Don’t Breathe director recently appeared on a panel alongside Alien: Romulus VFX Supervisor Eric Barbra and Wētā FX’s Dan Macarin, following an IMAX screening of their film, hosted by Collider. When asked about the sequel, Álvarez didn’t hold back—he revealed that he’s currently writing the script. “I believe the sequel will be my next movie,” he stated, adding, “I hope to start shooting later this year.”

Álvarez shared further insights into the project’s status, emphasizing the need to craft a continuation that expands upon the original film in a meaningful way.

“For the past couple of months, I’ve been trying to clear my mind, just enjoying the fact that the film performed well, and now that it’s receiving some recognition during award season, I’ve been focusing on that. But, of course, the studio and I are very excited about the idea of making a sequel. So, it’s highly likely. We have a clear direction, and I’ve got an idea that really excites me—one that could push the saga forward in new and exciting ways.”

Álvarez Wants to Take the Alien Franchise Into “Uncharted Waters”

As for where the sequel could go and what it could mean for the Alien franchise as a whole, Álvarez made it clear that he wants to take the story to new, unexplored places within the world of Xenomorphs.

“With Romulus, I made sure to check all the boxes of what I personally wanted to see in an Alien movie. I hoped that if I wanted to see something as a fan, then other fans might share that desire. That’s why the first film included so many classic elements that I felt needed to return. But now, for the sequel, we have an entire galaxy of possibilities ahead of us. Alien is a vast universe—it’s the original film, it’s Prometheus, and everything in between. Now, I think it’s time to go somewhere truly uncharted for the franchise.”

For long-time Alien fans, these comments should be exciting, particularly for those who felt that Romulus leaned too heavily on established franchise tropes. A bold and fresh approach, breaking away from familiar territory, could be exactly what the series needs.

Sigourney Weaver Won’t Be Returning as Ripley

One thing fans shouldn’t expect in the sequel is the return of Ellen Ripley. Álvarez recently addressed a rumor circulating on a fan site suggesting that Sigourney Weaver was in discussions to reprise her iconic role. The director swiftly shut it down on X/Twitter, simply stating, “Fun gossip. But not true at all.”

Alien: Romulus is currently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects—though the film’s use of VFX has been a point of controversy. A mix of practical effects and CGI was used to bring back actor Ian Holm in the form of a new android model resembling his original Alien character. The effect was met with backlash from some fans, to the point that Álvarez later “fixed” it for the film’s streaming and home release versions.

Source: MovieWeb