Alien 5

It’s xenomorphin’ time!

That’s according to producer Walter Hill.

The director revealed why his anticipated sequel didn’t come together.

Someday, I hope someone makes a documentary about Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5. First the project was held up by Ridley Scott, then Blomkamp released concept art that kinda-sorta forced the studio’s hand, then Blomkamp’s Chappie bombed and 20th Century Fox started dragging its heels, and then Scott started saying that the project was never actually anything substantial to begin with. No Alien sequel, no matter how fun, could possibly match the twists and turns of Blomkamp’s real-life struggle to get the film made.

In hindsight, it seems kind of odd that we had two directors competing to make movies in the same franchise. Back in 2015, director Neill Blomkamp sort of bull-rushed Hollywood by releasing concept art from the Alien 5 sequel he had been working on for 20th Century Fox. This was despite the fact that Ridley Scott had already made Prometheus  —  a direct prequel to the events of the Alien universe  —  and was working on what would later become Alien: Covenant. After months of rumors and Blomkamp’s promise to bring back a few beloved characters, the project petered out, and Scott emerged the sole proprietor of the Alien franchise.

When it was announced that Neill Blomkamp, director of the fantastic District 9, was thinking about helming an Alien sequel, people were cautiously optimistic. While Elysium and Chappie were far from impressive, District 9 is by far his best project, and maybe it would be good for him to get back into movies about extraterrestrial creatures. But, alas, his take on Alien is probably not to be, as the director himself says the chances of him joining the franchise are “Slim.”

While many people stood in line for Marvel’s big announcements at Comic-Con International ,  other science-fiction fans were being treated to a panel discussion on the 30th anniversary of Aliens. Director James Cameron and his cast and crew talked about the experience of making the original film, but those also interested in the future of the franchise were treated to Cameron’s first impression of the oft-delayed Neill Blomkamp Alien 5.

Death didn’t end Ellen Ripley’s story. (Uh, spoiler alert.) But supposedly Neill Blomkamp might.

Today brings news that San Diego Comic-Con will play host to a special panel to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Aliens, James Cameron’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror classic. Cameron himself will be in attendance along with Sigourney Weaver, who is still talking up Neill Blomkamp’s new Alien sequel despite reports that the project had been delayed due to Scott’s own Alien prequel plans.

Remember last year when Neill Blomkamp released his ‘Alien’ concept art? Remember losing your cool when he announced his ‘Alien’ movie was actually happening? And then Ridley Scott walked in and seemingly swooped all those dreams away.