A new Alien film helmed by Fede Álvarez is officially in the works for Hulu.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Studios has tapped Álvarez to write and direct a new standalone Alien movie, with original franchise director Ridley Scott producing via Scott Free Productions. The film is being made for Hulu as part of 20th Century's plans to make more than 10 films a year for the platform.
Álvarez is known for directing the 2016 film Don't Breathe and the 2013 reboot of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead, both of which he co-wrote alongside Rodo Sayagues. More recently, Álvarez and Sayagues penned the story for Netflix's 2022 Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel, which was adapted into a screenplay by Chris Thomas Devlin and directed by David Blue Garcia.
Details regarding Alvarez's take on the Alien franchise are being kept tightly under wraps at the moment, though sources describe it as being "unconnected to the previous movies." Note that Alvarez's film is also separate from FX on Hulu's upcoming Alien television series, which is being helmed by Legion and Fargo creator Noah Hawley.
Directed by Scott from a screenplay by Dan O'Bannon, the beloved horror film Alien first hit theaters in 1979. Alien was followed up in 1986 by an action-oriented sequel titled Aliens, written and directed by James Cameron. The David Fincher-directed Alien 3 released in 1992, followed by the Jean-Pierre Jeunet-directed Alien Resurrection in 1997. Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, a pair of crossover films with the Predator franchise, released in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Scott ultimately returned to the franchise to direct the prequel films Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, which released in 2012 and 2017, respectively. In addition to producing Álvarez's film, Scott is also involved in the production of Hawley's TV series.
Alien is just one of multiple 20th Century Fox (now known as 20th Century Studios) properties The Walt Disney Company acquired following its purchase of 21st Century Fox in 2019. 20th Century Studios President Steve Absell recently laid out the studio's plans for Hulu, which itself is majority-owned by Disney. "It's a mix. In order to meet the volume that we are looking at -- which is, by 2023, 10-plus movies just for streaming -- it's going to be a combination of originals in those genres. And coolest of all for fans, we get to find bold takes on beloved Fox properties," he said.
At the time, Asbell was referring specifically to Prey, a prequel film set in the aforementioned Predator franchise. "You can take big creative swings -- which you'll see with Prey, which we'll launch this summer," he continued. "A Predator movie set in the Great Plains in 1719 by Dan Trachtenberg. That's what this allows us to do."
While discussing 20th Century's place in the overall Disney machine, Asbell said, "In relation to the other brands -- Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Disney Animation -- we are closer to what you call 'general entertainment' on the TV side. Some films will be more Disney-adjacent -- Avatar, Free Guy, Planet of the Apes -- and some films will be edgier."
Fede Álvarez's Alien film does not currently have a release date.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter