Two weeks ago, 20th Century Fox announced thatRidley Scott’sPrometheussequel will be titledAlien: Covenant, and it will have direct ties to the director’s 1979 classic sci-fi horror movieAlien. In the official press release, only actorMichael Fassbenderwas confirmed to return as android David. This led many to wondering what happened to Elizabeth Shaw, played byNoomi Rapace. Was she still in the movie? Is this new adventure set further into the future? Today,Ridley Scottpartially answers that question.
Yes,Noomi Rapacewill reprise her role as Elizabeth Shaw inAlien: Covenant. But the character only plays a very small role. Her brief screen time will amount to nothing more than a cameo. But we should learn what became of her following the events seen inPrometheus. This is the official synopsis released by 20th Century Fox.
“Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise. But it actually turns out to be a dark, dangerous world. And the sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomedPrometheus expedition.”
Sydney’s Fox Studios will be home to Alien: Covenant, with principle photography kicking off in March. No other casting has been announced at this time.Ridley Scottis keen on using mostly local Australian actors. While a lot of the movie will be shot in a studio, there will also be location shoots too. The director plans to utilize monumental forest and monumental rock formations. The entire production will last for 16 weeks, and it will contribute more than $43.3 million (AUS$60 million) to Sydney’s economy and employ more than 600 local cast and crew.
Speaking at a press conference in the country,Ridley Scottrevealed that Alien: Covenant is actually the first in a plannedtrilogythat will directly link to his 1979 sci-fi horror classicAlienwhile sharing ties toPrometheus. The director has begun pre-production on Alien: Covenant, confirming that there will be two more prequels to follow. The final of which will meet up with the beginning ofAlien, taking a page out of theRise of the Planet of the Apesplaybook. Alien: Covenant is going to play out as an ‘origin’ story that answers some of the basic questions posed inAlien. We will learn who made the alien, where it came from and why.Ridley Scottexplained the following.
“Its a very complex story. It’s an evolution of what I first did with Prometheus 1, Prometheus 1 was borne out of my frustration that on Alien 1 in 1979 - I only did one as I don’t normally do sequels. I was amazed that in the 3 that followed that no-one asked the question “why the Alien, who made it and why?” Very basic questions. So I came up with the notion of Prometheus 1, which starts to indicate who might have made it and where it came from. So I’m now going to the next one, which is the next evolution directly connected with the first one, which was this Shaw, when he replaced Michael Fassbender in two pieces and we’ll kind of pick it up there and it will evolve. When that’s finished there’ll be another one and then another one which will gradually drive into the back entrance of the film in 1979. So in other words, why was this space jockey there and why did he have anAlieninside him? And those questions will be answered.”
With onlyMichael Fassbenderconfirmed at this point, it isn’t known when more cast members will be announced.Ridley Scottis directing from a script byJack Paglen,Michael GreenandJohn Logan. This new prequel trilogy will also introduceSigourney Weaver’s Ripley back into the story, but it isn’t known how that will be accomplished at this time. While Alien: Covenant won’t feature the classic 1979 xenomorph, we will get two monsters, one that is completely new and another that has been seen before. What do you think? Are you ready for three more Alien movies?
