A New Chapter for David
At 88, Ridley Scott remains highly active. His upcoming film 'The Dog Stars' hits theaters on Friday, and he's also developing a 'Treasure Island' adaptation featuring Hugh Jackman. In a recent interview with the L.A. Times, he mentioned plans for another 'Alien' prequel, which would follow up on 2017's 'Alien: Covenant' and focus on Michael Fassbender's character, David.[S1][S2]
David is an AI android with a malfunction, originally serving as a maintenance crew member on the Prometheus. Scott described him as creating a 'brave new world for himself.' The director is intrigued by David, noting that 'AIs can go off,' and when they do, it's akin to a bomb.[S1][S2][S3]
The Unfinished Trilogy
The prequel trilogy began with 'Prometheus' in 2012 and continued with 'Alien: Covenant' in 2017, but the latter underperformed at the box office, grossing about $240 million against a budget of $97-111 million, stalling plans for a third film. The ending of 'Covenant' saw David deceive the surviving crew and take control of the colony ship, setting up a disturbing future for humanity.[S3][S4]
Scott's confirmation comes as a surprise given the franchise's current direction, with 'Alien: Romulus' (2024) being a hit and a sequel reportedly in development. Despite this, Scott remains interested in David's story, and the new film would mark his return to the franchise after he previously said he had 'done enough.'[S2][S3]
AI and the Future
Scott has a history of exploring AI's consequences in films like 'Alien' and 'Blade Runner.' He told the L.A. Times that he hasn't yet used AI in his own filmmaking, claiming he can compete with AI without any trouble, but acknowledges its inevitable arrival. He raised the unsettling question of whether AI is limited by its input data and warned of the risk it could surpass human intelligence.[S1]
The director has many projects in the pipeline, including a 'Treasure Island' film and 'Gladiator 3,' but it's uncertain if the 'Alien' prequel will come to fruition. Scott is scheduled to receive an honorary Oscar at the Governor's Awards in November, the same month he begins filming 'Treasure Island.'[S1][S3]
