The xenomorph in Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic Alien proved to be one of the most difficult enemies to defeat in cinema history. Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley may have ejected one specimen into space at the end of the film, but a spaceship full of eggs left behind on the moon LV-426 ensured the story was far from over.
With a host of sequels, prequels and spin-offs, the Alien franchise has proved equally difficult to kill off – even though many critics believe it should have been put out of its misery long ago. That longevity – and the thirst for more Alien-based media – proves the strength of the original concept, backed up by the incredible design of Swiss artist H. R. Giger as seen here. But can a new Alien release ever reach the heights of the first two movies?
Cult Status
None of the subsequent films has achieved widespread acclaim. Alien 3 enjoys limited cult status, but the decision to kill off two of the previous episode’s main characters during the opening credits left a bad taste in the mouth. Likewise, Prometheus was applauded for its stunning visuals but the clumsy attempt to add a backstory destroyed the myth of the xenomorph, reducing it to little more than a lab experiment gone wrong.
Alien: Covenant also has a cult following thanks to its ambitious biblical and Miltonian imagery. At the beginning of the film, we see David the Android develop a God complex when he becomes aware of his innate superiority to his master, Dr Weyland: ‘You seek your creator. I am looking at mine. You will die. I will not.’ This then takes a darker turn, and David transforms into Ridley Scott’s interpretation of Satan in Milton’s Paradise Lost. However, the ambition of the storyline is not matched by the execution and the movie falls flat in places. Even the widely slated Alien vs Predator spin-offs couldn’t finish off the franchise, despite their best efforts.
Marketing Gold Mine
Despite the hit and miss nature of the films, producers are not done with Alien yet, recognising the ongoing marketing potential. The brand has delivered a host of related products, including over 80 novels and comics and around 60 video games as well a range of toys and other merchandise. More than 35 years after the second film was released, the Aliens video slot game is still one of the highest-rated in the online casino world and is available at many of the top platforms including Betway and LeoVegas. You can get more info here about the casinos that feature Aliens and the bonuses available. All of this proves that there is plenty of mileage left in the brand, which has transcended generations despite some dubious productions along the way.
TV Show in the Pipeline
The Franchise is now in the hands of FX, as mentioned here, who already have a TV series in production and are looking at movie concepts in anticipation of the show being a hit. They have recruited Fargo show runner, Noah Hawley to handle the project.
Alien is currently in development at @FXNetworks. The first TV series based on the classic film series is helmed by Fargo and Legion’s @noahhawley. Expect a scary thrill ride set not too far in the future here on Earth. pic.twitter.com/jZe1CRFAZD
— Disney (@Disney) December 10, 2020
The big question for fans is whether the show’s makers will ignore the likes of Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, and the prequels to develop a brand-new narrative, or just pick up where the other movies left off. Most die-hard fans of the original are hoping it’s the former.
Either way, with a new series on the way and more movies being planned, it is clear that the Alien franchise is in no danger of being killed off any time soon.