Ridley Scott’s Major Regret Regarding the Alien Franchise

Important Insights on Ridley Scott and the Future of the Alien Franchise

Ridley Scott expresses regret for not securing ownership of the Alien and Blade Runner franchises.
A sequel to Alien: Romulus has been confirmed, with the possibility of original cast members returning.
Fans are hopeful for a revitalized Alien franchise following the success of Romulus.

Following the successful release of Alien: Romulus, the beloved sci-fi series has once again captured the attention of audiences worldwide. Renowned director Ridley Scott, who helmed the original Alien in 1979, recently shared his sentiments about his involvement in the franchise, reflecting on a notable regret he holds.

The Alien saga first graced the screen in 1979, quickly establishing itself as a cornerstone of science fiction cinema. The 1986 sequel, directed by James Cameron, is often hailed as a masterwork in its own right. Nevertheless, the franchise faced challenges throughout the 1990s and early 2000s due to various sequels and crossovers, many of which lacked the unique touch Scott brought to the initial films. Although he returned to the director’s chair for the prequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, Scott now believes he missed a crucial opportunity to secure rights for the franchise.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scott expressed his regret over not having ownership rights to the Alien and Blade Runner franchises. His production company, Scott Free, contributed to the making of Alien: Romulus, but without ownership, they cannot straightforwardly partake in future projects. Scott partially attributes this oversight to previous management within his company:

“I should have locked them up, as [Steven] Spielberg did with Jurassic Park, and everything he does, and James Cameron with his properties. I resurrected a dead Alien franchise with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, and we should have rejoined the ownership right then, and we didn’t, because someone was careless.”

The future of the Alien franchise looks promising, highlighted by recent announcements from 20th Century Studios. Executive Steve Asbell has indicated that a sequel to Alien: Romulus is in the works, although details were still pending at the time of his announcement. Asbell hinted at the possible return of stars Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, while emphasizing the necessity of having Ridley Scott and his production company involved in any forthcoming projects. “It would make no sense that another movie is made without Ridley and us,”stressed Scott Free’s president and COO, Justin Alvarado Brown.

With Alien: Romulus breathing new life into the franchise, anticipation is mounting among fans who wish for a bright future devoid of past mistakes. One suggested path forward involves ensuring that Spaeny’s character, Rain, does not simply become a rehash of iconic protagonist Ellen Ripley. The direction that Álvarez and 20th Century Studios will take the franchise remains to be revealed, but following the success of Romulus, fans are eager to witness the unfolding narrative.

You can watch the classic Alien films on Disney Plus.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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