Ridley Scott Confirms Exit from 'Alien' Franchise: "I’ve Done Enough"

Sir Ridley Scott has confirmed he will not be making any more ‘Alien’ films in the movie franchise, feeling he has contributed enough to the iconic franchise. The legendary director, who helmed the original 1979 ‘Alien’, set the stage for one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, telling the chilling story of a deadly extraterrestrial stalking a spaceship crew led by Sigourney Weaver.

Following Scott’s groundbreaking debut, James Cameron took over with the acclaimed sequel, ‘Aliens’ in 1986. The franchise expanded with two more sequels and two ‘Alien vs. Predator’ crossovers in the 2000s. Ridley Scott eventually made his return to the ‘Alien’ universe by directing the prequels ‘Prometheus’ (2012) and ‘Alien: Covenant’ (2016). 

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Despite the recent success of ‘Alien: Romulus’ (2024), directed by Fede Álvarez, Ridley Scott believes the franchise peaked with his original film and Cameron’s sequel. In an interview with Screen Rant, Scott reflected on the series’ trajectory, expressing disappointment with later instalments after ‘Alien Resurrection’ (1997). He emphasised that while his own and Cameron’s films were strong, the subsequent sequels failed to meet expectations, which led to a decline of a franchise he felt deserved the same cultural significance as ‘Star Trek’ or ‘Star Wars’.

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Ridley Scott's History with the ‘Alien' Franchise

Additionally, Ridley Scott revealed that after Robert Altman turned down the first ‘Alien,’ he was the sixth person to helm the film. Despite initial doubts, Scott embraced the film’s edgy, “heavy metal” vibe and took on the challenge, which ultimately changed sci-fi cinema.

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Years later, Ridley Scott returned to the franchise with ‘Prometheus,’ co-writing the screenplay with Damon Lindelof to bring the story back from a different angle. He noted that the audience warmly received these newer films and appreciated their return to the ‘Alien’ universe. However, after completing ‘Alien: Covenant’, Scott feels his chapter in the saga is complete and hopes others will continue to build on the foundation he helped create.

Scott’s insights came alongside Álvarez’s recent comments about receiving guidance from the director while working on ‘Alien: Romulus’, highlighting the lasting influence Ridley Scott holds over the franchise’s future direction.

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