Skip to main content

Angry fans inspired Ridley Scott to bring xenomorphs back for ‘Alien: Covenant’

ridley scott prometheus impact alien covenant
Alien Anthology/Twitter
When Prometheus debuted in 2012, it left some fans wondering where all the xenomorphs had gone. The deadly monsters were a staple of the franchise and, suddenly, they were no more. At least not until director Ridley Scott recognized fans’ “ground-zero reaction,” as he recently described it to Yahoo Movies.

The director intended to put xenomorphs behind him, thinking that they were passé after four films. In fact, he even described them as “done” and “cooked” to Yahoo in 2014.

“I think it wears out a little bit,” he said at the time. “There’s only so much snarling you can do.”

Fans, however, disagreed. Even though they turned up at the box office and spent about $403.4 million on Prometheus tickets worldwide, many were unhappy to see the series turn its back on the monsters that had hooked them. When he learned this, Scott reflected and came to feel he had been “wrong” to do away with them.

Although the famed director said that he doesn’t consider fans to be “the final word,” he did see them as “a reflection of his doubts.”

“I think you’re not sensible if you don’t actually take [them] into account,” he told Yahoo.

With Alien: Covenant, he took that experience into account and made sure to bring back the film series’ famed beasts. Scott discussed the return of the xenomorphs in a 2015 interview and hinted that Alien: Covenant would look at the origins of the terrifying life form.

“It felt bio-mechanoid, it felt like a weapon,” he told The Wrap of the xenomorph. “And so the movie will explain that, and reintroduce the alien back into it.”

The future of the creature seems to be bright now. Scott is already looking ahead to an Alien: Covenant sequel and told Yahoo he expects to shoot the John Logan-penned story “within a year.” Beyond that, he suggested he could possibly make another Alien film, so it would seem there are more xenomorphs in our future.

Alien: Covenant will hit theaters May 19, 2017.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (June 28-30)
A girl looks at a boy in House at the End of the Street.

June is surprisingly over, and with it, a great month for movies comes to a satisfactory close. You've probably watched Inside Out 2 or Bad Boys: Ride or Die or maybe even The Bikeriders. From blockbusters to indie fare, the theatrical movie business has been robust and healthy.

The same goes for streaming. Netflix had a big hit with Richard Linklater's Hit Man, while Amazon Prime Video recently premiered the latest bonkers season of The Boys. HBO and Max have been quieter, but their robust library speaks volumes to the streamer's high quality. The following three films are older, but are just as worth your time as new hits like House of the Dragon season 2.
The Skin I Live In (2011)

Read more
3 underrated Amazon Prime Video movies you should watch this weekend (June 28-30)
Two men spy from a car in The Limey.

As we head toward the end of June, it's worth reflecting on how we want to spend the rest of summer. For some, that's going to mean enjoying nice weather or getting some time in at the beach. For others, it might mean escaping from the heat, at least for a while, to check out a great movie.

If you fall into that second category, then we've pulled together a list of three great, underrated, titles available on Amazon Prime Video that are all worth checking out. Prime Video is home to some of the best movies available online, but it can be hard to find the ones you want. These three will at least give you a great place to start.
The Limey (1999)
The Limey | 4K Restoration Trailer | Plays Dec. 19

Read more
The best Netflix original series right now
Eric and Benedict Cumberbatch in Eric.

The era of Peak TV was also Peak Netflix, because the streamer seemingly had an endless supply of new original series. So far in 2024, that hasn't been the case. Whether we'll ever get the same level of content again seems unlikely for now. But even in a reduced capacity, Netflix still has a few new additions to its lineup of originals.

For the month of June, we're adding the '80s-set thriller, Eric, which stars Benedict Cumbebatch. Our other pick for the month is Supacell, which is Netflix's new British series that remixes some old superhero archetypes. That's not a very big selection for fans who always want something new, but this roundup of the best Netflix original series really does have all of the top options in one place for you. All you have to do is scroll down and make time to binge watch some shows.

Read more