A week ago we learned that a new ALIEN movie was in development from DISTRICT 9 and EYLSIUM director Neill Blomkamp. The man started putting the ideas for the movie together himself and posted some concept art online. Fox got word and his persistence paid off because the studio set him to the director’s chair. The film will be set within the ALIEN universe and father to the franchise, Ridley Scott, will be producing. So far details are limited, but the art did show Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley and Michael Biehn’s Hicks.
Sky Movies was able to get Blomkamp to talk about the film and how it will fit into the franchise.
“I want this film to feel like it is literally the genetic sibling of Aliens, so it’s Alien, Aliens and then this film.”
That’s a pretty direct way of saying he’s paying no attention to ALIEN 3 and ALIEN: RESURRECTION. I’m not sure how Ripley will feel about that time in her life being forgotten, but I’m sure the audience understands that they just weren’t great films. It’s still early, so this could all change.
He also touched on his desire to maintain the “nightmare” element of the franchise:
“It’s a Freudian nightmare. That element to me is what is so appealing; to put the audience on the edge of their seat the whole time in a traditional, monster-stalking-you, dark-corridor-way. I love that. And then when you mix in all of the design elements and the life cycle of the alien, it’s a powder keg of creativity for me.”
Weaver then spoke about giving Ripley a proper ending:
“I would love to take Ripley out of sort of orbiting around in space and give a proper finish to what was such an excellent story. So when someone like Neill Blomkamp said, ‘Well, I’m interested in finishing the story,’ my little ears perked up… I think it’s a great series. It deserves a proper ending—I know the fans would love that.”
We know when it comes to franchises a true “ending” is hardly ever the case. If Fox makes money with it, they will try and capture lightening in a bottle again and again. This will be Blomkamp’s next movie, so hopefully he doesn’t stop sharing images and ideas over social media during the process. We will be keeping you posted you can bet on that.