Alien: Romulus is finally here. The sequel has garnered lots of attention ahead of its release, due to the fact that director Fede Álvarez is taking the reins of the franchise. There's also the continuity of the film, which places it between the events of the two most beloved Alien flicks, Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).
The release of a sequel inevitably sparks discussion about another sequel, though. Alien: Romulus may just be hitting theaters, but fans and Alien fanatics are already inquiring about the future of the franchise, and whether Álvarez would consider returning. Does the horror specialist have another outing in him?
Ridley Scott wants Álvarez to return for another Alien film
Ridley Scott, the only man who has directed multiple Alien films, certainly thinks so. The franchise maestro talked about Romulus during a recent interview with Screen Rant, and he said that Álvarez has more story to tell:
"Fede’s got another one up his sleeve because I think this is going to do really well. He’s got a streak of brilliance."
Scott also owned up to his protectiveness of the franchise, and was relieved to find that Álvarez had a specific vision when he came onboard. "The danger of franchises is they do die unless somebody suddenly decides to pick up the mat and run down the field with a ball," he noted. "Fede is a surge of energy, and I had to step back and let him do it."
Álvarez wants to take the franchise back to its roots
Álvarez has been much less direct when asked about future Alien films. He did tell The Reel Roundup that his plan is to bring the franchise back to the look and feel of the original films, which is something he implemented in Romulus:
"This will take them hopefully back to that world and those feelings that those movies gave them. That is the goal."
As with all franchises, however, a sequel depends on box office success. Alien: Romulus is on pace to rake in $75 million opening weekend, according to Deadline, so Scott's hope for more Álvarez-helmed films may come to fruition.