Ridley Scott Passes the Torch to Fede Alvarez for ‘Alien: Romulus’
Ridley Scott, the acclaimed director behind ‘Prometheus’ and ‘Alien: Covenant,’ has decided to step back from the director’s chair for his upcoming project, ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Instead, he has entrusted the sci-fi horror film to Fede Alvarez, known for his work on ‘Don’t Breathe’ and ‘Evil Dead.’ Despite handing over the reins, Scott remained deeply involved in the film’s early development as a producer.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Scott shared insights into the collaborative process, revealing that Alvarez’s initial screenplay was quite lengthy. The two worked together to fine-tune the script, with Scott emphasising the importance of innovation in long-standing franchises. “The danger of all franchises is they do die unless somebody suddenly decides to pick up the mat and run down the field with a ball,” Scott commented.
Scott recognised Alvarez’s strong vision for the film and eventually stepped back to allow the director to take control. He noted that while the screenplay was initially long, it was a typical aspect of the creative process. “We got into that a little bit,” he mentioned.
When it comes to directing, Scott is firm in his belief that advice is often unnecessary for a creative individual fully invested in a project. He explained that advice can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help, especially for those carrying the weight of a film on their shoulders. Alvarez kept Scott informed throughout the production, but Scott resisted the urge to interfere, stating, “If I fall on my own sword and therefore lie bleeding, I say, ‘It was my fault.'”
Scott expressed high hopes for Alvarez, praising his “streak of brilliance.” Alvarez himself admitted that he felt the pressure of living up to Scott’s expectations. Speaking at the DGA Latino Summit last year, he recalled the nerve-wracking experience of sending the final cut of ‘Alien: Romulus’ to Scott, wanting his approval before anyone else saw it.
Alvarez had been warned that Scott could be a tough critic, particularly when it came to his work. He even mentioned that Scott was not entirely pleased with ‘Blade Runner 2049,’ a film Alvarez regarded as a masterpiece. However, when Scott finally viewed ‘Alien: Romulus,’ he surprised Alvarez with his enthusiastic response, exclaiming, “Fede, what can I say? It’s fantastic.”
‘Alien: Romulus’ is set to be released on 16 August 2024.
