Summary
TheAlienfranchise is having a bit of a resurgence lately, if it ever really hit a lull. The series just releasedAlien: Romulus, which took everything in a new direction with a new crew and a new story. The latest flick also introduced a new heroine in Rain, along with her “brother” Andy.
While Romulus mainly was a return to form for theAlienfranchise, a return to its horror roots especially, it appeared as though going in this direction was leaving one of the more interesting stories in the long-running franchise behind.And thenAlienfans got good news. While there is aRomulussequel apparently in the works, it sounds as if there will be several differentAliensmovies getting worked on at the same time by different directors. And the best news of all is that one of the directors working on one of the next installments is none other than Ridley Scott. Not only is it great to have the legendary director working on this IP again, but it could mean that while Fede Alvarez will focus on what Rain and Andy and whoever else they meet are doing in one timeline,Aliensfans could finally get an answer to the biggest mystery that’s never been answered in any of the films.
Alien Mystery Hinted At But Never Explained
Ridley Scott being on boardfor at least one otherAlienmovie could mean that the Space Jockey question will finally be answered. It’s a question that was thought to be getting an answer in the last two movies that strayed along the Ellen Ripley timeline, even if it was utterly devoid of any mention or appearance of Ripley. When Prometheus' plot was first revealed, it was thought there were finally answers coming for a mystery that popped up in the very firstAlienmovie.
The Space Jockey was originally found by the Nostromo crew and was, in fact, central to that film’s story—right up until it took a hard right turn after thatlittle Xenomorph popped outof the crew member’s chest. Thanks to the massive and one of it’s kind set that was built for the scene, the Space Jockey became immediately fascinating for so many of the franchise’s fans. However, because of the turn the plot took in that first movie, it was never mentioned again. It was completely ignored inAliensas well.The Space Jockey promisedso much when it was first introduced. Not the least of which was that at some point, if not in the first film then in subsequent ones, the audience would get to know exactly where the Xenomorphs came from, why they existed and of course, just who the giant being was and how it tied into the fate (and possibly origins) of humanity. There was also the question as to justwhy it was where it wasat all.
Prometheus Looked Like The Answer Was Coming
One of the things that madeAliensuch an entertaining movie, outside of very original ideas for an alien lifeform of course, is that it offered so many open-ended questions. The characters aboard the Nostromo found the Engineer ship laden with alien eggs on LV-426. When the movie wandered away from that plot line, itfelt likePrometheuswouldfinally provide answers to the questions surrounding how that engineer ship got there. It looked like the intent was to give answers on the Space Jockey once and for all.
It looked like the intent was to give answers on the Space Jockey once and for all.
Instead, the audience got more questions, withDavid and Elizabeth leaving the planetwith the eggs. “Perhaps,” fans of the franchise thought. “The next installment will go back and finally answer the Space Jockey question.” But it wasn’t meant to be asAlien: Covenantmoved further away from the mystery.
Ridley Scott Has Chance To Finally Close The Circle
When the nextAliensfilm was announced as a sequel toRomulus, it was thought that the franchise wasnever going to even tryand answer the question. However, with there apparently more than one sequel, storyline and directors, it’s possible that Ridley Scott could finally cover come ground that hasn’t been tread yet.
It certainly wouldn’t be a terrible idea tosee if the legendary directorcould find a way to focus on the Space Jockey question above all else. After all, Fede Alvarez will reportedly follow along the path of Rain and Andy and that can offer plenty of Alien vs human scares and gore and death. Meanwhile, Scott’s latest entry into theAlienfranchise could finally offer up how these three races are so very obviously tied together. Why they were tied together and why the giant traveler was where he was when his remains were found. It feels like Scott owes that to a fanbase that’s been waiting 45 years and counting for the answer.
