Well, this sucks. I guess. Turns out that ALIEN 5 movie we had been hearing so much about over the last few years – which was set to hit us from DISTRICT 9 director Neill Blomkamp – is officially dead.
Ridley Scott said the movie "would never see the light of day" a month or so ago, but today we have confirmation from Blomkamp himself.
After CHAPPIE I can't say I'm too disappointed Blomkamp won't be helming a new ALIEN film, but really, could the man do any worse than ALIEN: COVENANT?
But seriously, with Covenant underperforming at the box-office, it seems less and less likely that we'll get another Ridley Scott ALIEN flick. That said, it seems a certainty that we won't be seeing a Neill Blomkamp ALIEN flick either. Blomkamp was recently speaking with The Verge about his new Oats Studio project – which we reported on HERE – and eventually, they asked him about his ALIEN 5 flick. It didn't go well.
Neill Blomkamp on ALIEN 5:
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.
"Politically," he says? Humm… Care to elaborate on that Blomkamp?
Blomkamp on Ridley Scott and studio politics:
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.
Fair enough. It must be hard to be in that position, facing off with Sir Ridley Scott. But still, after all the cool concept art we have seen from Blomkamp's now-deceased fifth film, I can't help but be a little upset by this news. Maybe ALIEN 5 was going to be Blomkamp's true heir to DISTRICT 9.
But I guess we shall never know.
On a fun side note, however, The Verge also asked Blomkamp if he has seen Scott's ALIEN: COVENANT yet. Turns out, I guess watching the flick may be too painful at the moment.
Blomkamp on ALIEN: COVENANT:
No, I haven’t seen it yet. But I definitely want to check it out.
Sure you do, Blomkamp. Sure you do. I'm not busting the man's balls here, I promise. I can totally understand the guy not wanting to be first in line to the flick that – give or take – knocked one of his super passion projects out of the sky.
That and maybe he read Eric's review.
ALIEN: COVENANT is set to hit Blu-ray this Fall. You can pre-order your copy RIGHT HERE.
Make this movie right now. I don't care what the plot is. I'm there.