Ridley Scott Says He’s Planning a Third ‘Alien’ Prequel Centering on Michael Fassbender’s Character

Director Ridley Scott has confirmed that a third prequel film in the Alien franchise is currently in development. This upcoming project is a direct follow-up to Alien: Covenant and will center on the character David, portrayed by Michael Fassbender. According to reports from IMDb, the plot of the sequel will specifically follow David as he works toward creating what is described as a “Brave New World”. Yahoo reports that the narrative will place a significant emphasis on the inherent dangers associated with artificial intelligence. This development marks a return to the prequel timeline established in the earlier films. Multiple entertainment outlets are tracking the production details of this project.

Deadline and Bloody Disgusting have both confirmed that the film is in active development with Michael Fassbender returning. IGN reports that Scott “went back and got involved” in the franchise following the release of Alien: Romulus, a film that Scott characterized as being just “OK,” leading him to believe the series “needs some help.” Additionally, Dark Horizons reports that Scott is currently involved in the process of re-writing the next installment to refine the direction of the story. This new project arrives as part of a larger effort to address the legacy of the prequel series. MovieWeb indicates that Scott is attempting to fix elements of Prometheus, a film released 14 years ago, through this new narrative trajectory. The move to expand the Covenant storyline is not without criticism, as The Guardian has expressed a skeptical view, suggesting that further movies in the Alien: Covenant lineage are unnecessary. The tension between Scott's creative vision for the AI-driven plot and critical reception of previous entries provides the primary context for the current production.

Industry observers are now watching for further updates on the script as Ridley Scott continues his re-writing process. The primary focus remains on how the story will integrate Fassbender's character into the broader lore of the Alien universe. Coverage does not yet specify a release date or filming schedule, but the confirmation of Fassbender's involvement and the thematic focus on AI indicate that the project is moving forward. Future updates will likely center on whether the film successfully bridges the gap between the prequel entries and the original series.