To say things are murky regarding the ever evolving ‘Alien: Paradise Lost’ would be an understatement.  Originally it was expected that Ridley Scott‘s next venture back to the universe he helped create would be an Alien-free sequel to ‘Prometheus’ that would focus mainly on the Engineers, the mysterious deities responsible for creating the monstrous Xenomorphs from the hit movie franchise. The fact that Neill Blomkamp announced plans to carry on the existing ‘Alien’ series with an untitled fifth movie gave support to the idea that Scott’s movie would stand apart.

But then, Scott announced that the followup to ‘Prometheus’ would be called ‘Alien: Paradise Lost’ and obviously the idea that the Xenomorphs not appear went out the window.

It is now believed that ‘Paradise Lost’ will follow the two survivors of ‘Prometheus’, Doctor Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and android David (Michael Fassbender) as they venture to the homeworld of the Engineers.

Scott discussed the film, saying:

“It’s going to be [its] own separate thing because they are going to the planet of the Engineers and they are going to see what happened there. It was a disaster. And they will be in that alien craft that takes them there, but with a new group that’s incoming, a new group of travelers in the beginning of the first act.”

With a completed script, the film is well into pre-production.  Scott had previously hoped to begin shooting in Australia in February 2016, but more recently the director said filming would more likely start in March.  The movie is currently scheduled to hit theaters on May 30, 2017.  (Should it need more time for post-production, studio 20th Century Fox is still sitting on June 9 for ‘Fantastic Four 2’ which we should all hope never happens.  This would still allow ‘Paradise Lost’ a two week head start before ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ directed by Rian Johnson hits on May 26.)

Scott did tease a “new group of travelers” which in ‘Alien’ lingo tends to mean fresh meat to tear apart.

It’s unclear whether ‘Alien: Paradise Lost’ will tie into Blomkamp’s ‘Alien 5’, but surely there will be some connection.  It remains to be seen if the ‘Alien’ franchise has the following and strength to essentially support two ongoing film series, one set of prequels and additional sequels.  ‘Prometheus’ under-performed at the box office and was also a disappointment to viewers and critics.  The last ‘Alien’ movie before that was ‘Alien Resurrection’ which came out in 1997.  (Not counting 2004’s ‘Alien Vs. Predator’, which isn’t considered canon.)

Are audiences still invested in the ‘Alien’ concept?  So much so that they want to learn their origins?  Will they still turn out for more tales that carry on after the hit Sigourney Weaver films?

Source: Screen Rant