Ridley Scott Confirms Third Alien Prequel
The director says a new prequel follows the android David, extending the Alien saga beyond Alien: Romulus.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Science Fiction
Director Ridley Scott has confirmed a third Alien prequel film is in development, following the android David, played by Michael Fassbender. The confirmation came in an interview with the Los Angeles Times this summer.
Why it matters
The Alien franchise has spanned several decades and multiple prequel and sequel directions, and a further prequel signals continued studio interest in expanding its mythology. Its status is tied to the performance of recent entries, including Alien: Romulus, which grossed over $100 million more than Alien: Covenant on a smaller budget.
Alien: Romulus grossed over $100 million more than Alien: Covenant despite a smaller production budget, according to the figures cited in the report. A follow-up to Romulus was in development, but its status remains unclear.
The players
Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott is the British filmmaker who directed the original Alien and the prequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, and remains closely tied to the franchise's direction.
Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender is the actor who has played the android David across the Alien prequel films and is expected to return for the new project.
The details
Scott made the statement in a Los Angeles Times interview this summer, saying the new film will follow David as he creates a brave new world for himself. The project sits alongside Alien: Earth, an FX prequel series set after Scott's prequels and before the original 1979 film, which is returning for a second season.
Timeline
1979: The original Alien film is released.
2012: Prometheus is released.
2017: Alien: Covenant is released, ending on a sequel-implying reveal.
2024: Alien: Romulus is released as a largely unrelated entry.
Later this year or early 2027: Alien: Earth season two filming is planned.
Franchise Trajectory
The new prequel continues the storyline that Prometheus opened in 2012, which Alien: Covenant later extended in 2017. Its development comes as the franchise has moved between prequel and sequel directions, including the largely unrelated Alien: Romulus in 2024.
For viewers, the immediate route to the franchise runs through the Alien: Earth series, which returns for a second season. The new prequel film has no confirmed release date, so audiences cannot yet plan around a theatrical window.
The takeaway
The Alien franchise continues to extend its storyline through both film and television, with the David character serving as a thread across projects. Viewers following the series should watch for official release announcements, since no dates have been confirmed for the new film.
What happens next
Filming for Alien: Earth's second season is planned for later this year or early 2027, and Scott has said he still plans to direct a Covenant sequel.
Further reading
For more on the franchise's broader direction, explore Science Fiction coverage.
