‘Alien’: Unravelling the Mystery of Why David Killed the Engineers
‘Alien: Covenant’, released in 2017, has often been overlooked in the long-running ‘Alien’ franchise, serving as a sequel to 2012’s ‘Prometheus’ and bridging the gap between that film and the original ‘Alien’ from 1979. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film was intended to kick off a series exploring the origins of the iconic Xenomorphs. However, following Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019 and ‘Covenant’s lukewarm box office performance, those plans shifted. The upcoming ‘Alien: Romulus’ aims to return to the franchise’s roots while still referencing key elements from ‘Covenant’ and ‘Prometheus’.
‘Covenant’ is akin to those connecting films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that focus more on continuity than standalone storytelling. This has left lingering questions, particularly regarding the android David and his shocking decision to exterminate an entire race of Engineers. Initially introduced in the original ‘Alien’ as the enigmatic “Space Jockey,” the Engineers were later fleshed out in ‘Prometheus’, revealing them as the creators of humanity who had second thoughts about their creation.
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In ‘Prometheus’, a crew discovers a lab on an Engineer’s moon, where a pathogen intended to eradicate life on Earth has gone awry, killing the Engineers. As the story unfolds, one surviving Engineer attempts to complete his mission but is infected by a facehugger, resulting in a proto-Xenomorph known as the Deacon. Only scientist Elizabeth Shaw and David survive, leaving to seek answers about the Engineers’ motivations.
‘Alien: Covenant’ follows eleven years later, revealing a desolate planet devoid of life, where David lies in wait, having deliberately released the pathogen that wiped out the Engineers. His motivations stem from self-preservation and a darker desire to create a “perfect” organism to replace humanity. The film concludes with David controlling a ship filled with colonists and embryos, setting the stage for his sinister experiments.
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With ‘Alien: Romulus’, the franchise circles back to the Engineers and their enigmatic black goo, hinting at David’s role in future narratives. While many questions remain unanswered, the film suggests that David’s experiments and their connection to the Xenomorphs will be explored further, promising a return to the franchise’s core mysteries.
–Farheen Ali
