I don't believe Ridley Scott is done with the movie franchise, no matter what he says. The English director launched the franchise in 1979 with the groundbreaking sci-fi horror film Alien, which established a new standard for the genre. Though the movie became a cultural touchstone, Scott did not return to direct the immediate sequels, leaving Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), and Alien: Resurrection (1997) to other filmmakers. Decades later, he revisited the franchise by directing the prequels Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), exploring the origin of the iconic Xenomorph and deepening the franchise's mythology.

However, it seems Scott might now be finished with the franchise. In an interview with ScreenRant for Kingdom of Heaven's 20th anniversary, Scott suggested that he is done with the Alien franchise, saying, "I think I've done enough." At 87 years of age, Scott does have several projects in development, including The Dog Stars, based on the 2012 novel by Peter Heller, and a Bee Gees biopic, which will go into production this November. However, despite what he says, .

After the success of Alien: Romulus in August 2024, for 20th Century Studios. Directed by Fede Álvarez, the latest installment received widespread acclaim, and, financially, it was also a major success, earning over $350 million globally on an $80 million budget. This success led to the greenlighting of a sequel featuring returning characters Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and Andy (David Jonsson).

However, there was also a report that Scott is developing another entry in the Alien series. While specific details remain under wraps, the announcement came shortly after the news of the Romulus sequel, suggesting this could be a separate project with new characters and an original plot, or possibly even a continuation of his two prequel movies. Regardless, to the Alien franchise in the future.

Even if he never directs another one himself, Ridley Scott will likely still be involved in upcoming Alien movies, considering how closely he worked with Fede Álvarez on Romulus. on the latest installment. He had conversations with Álvarez about the story and the script, offering notes and comments where he could. Scott also screened an early cut of Alien: Romulus, and though he "loved it," he offered constructive criticism that helped him improve it.

Considering how closely they worked together on the latest installment, it's hard to imagine that Álvarez doesn't loop Scott in on the Alien: Romulus sequel or any other future projects. Whether for creative input, executive producing, or simply story feedback, for whatever comes next for the franchise.

The Alien franchise also needs Ridley Scott to return, if only to complete David's story. Played by Michael Fassbender, , a synthetic being with a thirst for knowledge, creation, and eventually destruction. After surviving the doomed expedition in Prometheus, David reappears in Alien: Covenant, where it is revealed that he wiped out the Engineers and began experimenting with creating new lifeforms, ultimately leading to the genesis of the Xenomorph.

Scott left David's arc on a chilling note in Covenant, as the android hijacks a colonization vessel, posing as a different model and carrying Xenomorph embryos for further experimentation. It's a bold and unsettling ending that demands further exploration. Only Scott, who envisioned this philosophical and horrific journey, should truly finish what he started. While he may claim he's done, the open threads of David's story, combined with the franchise's reliance on Scott's vision, suggest he will return to in some capacity.

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  Ridley Scott