Ridley Scott Confirms an Unexpected Alien Sequel Is on the Way

Published Aug 26, 2026, 11:47 AM EDT Scott might finally resolve Alien: Covenant's cliffhanger ending Image: 20th Century Fox Sign in to your Polygon.com account For those who have been waiting with bated breath for a resolution to Alien: Covenant’s cliffhanger ending, here’s some good news. Ridley Scott just said that a third Alien prequel film is in the works. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scott said that his new Alien movie will follow Michael Fassbender’s character, the android David, as he creates a “brave new world for himself.” Scott said he is fascinated with the character and the idea of a malfunctioning AI. “AIs can go off. And if they do, it’s like a bomb.” The director prefers to make movies about AI rather than use it himself, saying that while he “can compete with an AI without any problem” for now, he’s worried about a future where the technology becomes "smarter than we are. After launching the series with his 1979 classic, Alien, Scott directed two prequel films, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. 2012's Prometheus follows a Weyland Corporation research team on a mission to find the origin of human life, only to discover dangerous bioweapons that resemble Xenomorphs. The android David becomes a central figure in the expedition, and as he grows fascinated with these alien organisms, he becomes increasingly disinterested in humanity. In 2017’s Alien: Covenant, a group of space colonists investigate a distress signal on an uncharted planet where they encounter David, who has been busy conducting disturbing experiments. The film ends with a surprising reveal that implies a sequel was on the way. However, the next entry in the series, Alien: Romulus, was almost entirely unrelated aside from a few references. It takes place between the first and second Alien movies. This Fede Álvarez-directed flick was a box-office success, grossing over $100 million more than Covenant on a smaller budget. A follow-up to Romulus is currently in pre-production, with filming planned to start later this year. If that wasn’t confusing enough, there’s also Alien: Earth, FX’s prequel TV series set after Scott’s prequels but before the original movie. It’s coming back for a second season, with filming planned for later this year or early 2027. Given this crowded timeline, it’s a bit surprising to hear that Scott is still planning to direct a Covenant sequel.