The sequel to the 2012 science-fiction flick “Prometheus” has been officially retitled as “Alien: Covenant” and Ridley Scott has promised that the film will finally make the connection to the successful “Alien” film franchise, which he also began back in 1979.
“Alien: Covenant” is the second movie of a prequel trilogy to “Alien.” So as not to confuse fans and viewers, the producers may have decided to complete first the prequel trilogy before making “Alien 5,” the latest sequel to the very successful sci-fi film franchise starring Sigourney Weaver.
Early last year, reports started going around that Neil Bonkenkamp was already tapped to direct “Alien 5” but towards the close of 2015, it has been confirmed that the project was put on hold pending the completion of the next two films of the prequel trilogy.
“Alien: Covenant” is slated to air on October 6, 2017, and the third film is likely to come out one or two years after so the earliest that “Alien 5” could come out is in 2019.
A colony ship to follow the expedition ship
There have been numerous speculations about the possible plotline of “Alien: Covenant” but it was practically confirmed when the movie’s official synopsis was released late last year.
The synopsis clearly states that “Alien: Covenant” shall connect directly to Director Ridley Scott’s 1979 seminal work of science fiction in “Alien.”
The film shall focus on the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark and dangerous world, whose sole inhabitant is the synthetic David, to be reprised by Michael Fassbender, the lone survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition, details Scified.
With that being said, it is also clear that actress Noomi Rapace, who played Elizabeth Shaw in “Prometheus” shall no longer be in “Alien: Covenant.”
In fact, Ridley Scott recently confirmed that Noomi Rapace as the main actress of “Prometheus” has been removed as a cast member of the next film, notes Gamezone.
It can be recalled that towards the end of “Prometheus,” Elizabeth Shaw and David flew away from the planet onboard an alien spacecraft before viewers finally got a glimpse of the Xenomorph alien.
It seems that Elizabeth Shaw will be killed by the Xenomorph crashing the alien ship to another world with David as the only survivor. It shall be the place where the colony ship Covenant and its crew will find him. Unbeknownst to them, the planet is also where the Xenomorph crash landed, and that is where the suspense and excitement shall begin.
Casting still being worked out
Ridley Scott also confirmed that the only actor that has been confirmed so far is Michael Fassbender and that they are still casting the main roles. It would be interesting who would be the main protagonist in “Alien: Covenant” but it is likely to be another female actress.
“Alien: Covenant” is to be written by Jack Paglen, Michael Green, and John Logan.
Meanwhile, Janty Yates, the award-winning costume designer, in an interview, said that “Alien: Covenant” is actually set 10 years in the future beyond “Prometheus.”
The timeline of “Prometheus” was set in the last week of 2093, which means that it took place 28 years before the first sci-fi/horror film “Alien” shown in 1979 starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley.
With the 10-year time jump of the sequel, it means that “Alien: Covenant,” will just be 18 years away from the events of “Alien.”
Latest reports also have it that Katherine Waterstone from the movie “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” has been cast as a lead character in “Alien: Covenant” named Daniels.
She is a crew member of the colony ship Covenant, which shall come across the mystery planet as well as David the droid. It would seem that she would be the new Shaw in the movie and the one before Ripley too.
The first “Prometheus” movie earned an R rating but Director Ridley Scott cited it as merely a soft-R rating.