Alien franchise fans finally have a projected release date for the new installment directed by Fede Álvarez.
The as-yet-unreleased title is the eighth installment in the popular sci-fi/horror franchise, which began with Ridley Scott's epic 1979 hit Alien, where humans faced off against the deadly xenomorphs in deep dark space and are picked off one by one. The concepts, plot lines, and characters have continued through numerous sequels and prequels, games, web series, and other media over the past four decades, including the critically acclaimed sequel, Aliens (1986), and a popular crossover offshoot Alien vs. Predator, which places the xenomorphs at odds with another group of horrific creatures spawned in the '80s horror world. The first two Alien films are undoubtedly considered high canon in the extraterrestrial terror genre and a favorite among sci-fi and horror fans.
Disney announced Álvarez's Alien film will be released on August 16th, 2024. This places the movie at the end of summer blockbuster season, but before the slew of spooky season offerings usually doled out in September. Starring Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu, Álvarez's Alien is described as "an original standalone feature," independent of the storyline of the two most recent prequels, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.
Álvarez, who co-wrote the film with Evil Dead's Rodo Sayagues, is known best for his 2013 Evil Dead remake and 2022’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel. This means there will likely be lots of scares and plenty of gore from a franchise already quite respected for it. While original sci-fi final girl Sigourney Weaver has reportedly retired from her xenomorph fighting days, a new infusion of talent and storylines promises good things for the revered franchise.
20th Century has not announced the Alien sequel's title, but the latest installment comes amid renewed interest in the franchise. This has been compounded by an upcoming Alien TV series by Noah Hawley, eventually due for FX & Hulu, which brings new attention to the classic film. The announcement is also great news during an era where many films and series are experiencing significant delays due to the Writer’ Guild of America strike as writers battle for compensation and rights.
Alavarez's Alien film is due in theaters on August 16, 2024.
Source: Variety