Ridley Scott has confirmed that a third film in his Alien prequel series, focusing on the android David, is currently in development. The new movie will explore David creating a new world for himself, a narrative thread stemming from the cliffhanger ending of 2017's Alien: Covenant.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scott expressed his fascination with AI characters and the potential for malfunctioning artificial intelligence. "AIs can go off. And if they do, it’s like a bomb," he stated, adding that his preference is to direct films about AI rather than utilize the technology himself. He voiced concerns about a future where AI surpasses human intelligence.
Scott's prequel saga began with 2012's Prometheus, which followed a research team discovering dangerous bioweapons and the android David becoming increasingly detached from humanity. Alien: Covenant continued this narrative, with David conducting disturbing experiments on a new group of colonists, ending with a surprising reveal that suggested a sequel.
Despite the ongoing development of other Alien projects, including the Fede Álvarez-directed Alien: Romulus (which takes place between the original Alien and Aliens) and FX's prequel TV series Alien: Earth (set after Scott's prequels but before the original film), Scott remains committed to his Covenant sequel. A follow-up to Romulus is also in pre-production with filming slated for later this year, and the Alien: Earth series is preparing for its second season, with filming expected in late 2024 or early 2027. Scott's continued focus on David's story marks a surprising turn given the proliferation of other Alien universe content.