If you were hoping to see returning cast members in the alleged Alien reboot from Disney, it appears you’re going to be disappointed. On the other hand, the latest report on Disney’s attempt to reboot the iconic sci-fi horror franchise does have some promise. While many fans were hoping either Ridley Scott would make another Alien prequel featuring Michael Fassbender, or that Sigourney Weaver would come back as Ellen Ripley, it seems Disney has different intentions.
According to That Hashtag Show, while Disney reportedly did attempt bringing Ridley Scott back into the fold – his reboot script was apparently a little too much. As stated:
“Disney originally wanted Ridley Scott for the rebooted film. But the script they got from him was convoluted and incoherent. Far from the ‘refresh’ that the executives wanted from a reboot.”
With the way most audiences have responded to both Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, it isn’t that surprising. And while it would seem promising to go the other route and simply bring back Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, Disney decided a different path entirely. With new writers working on the script, it appears they want to go back to the roots of the franchise and try a more simple premise.
According to the report, the Disney Alien reboot will feature a new cast of characters. “Transient colonists,” to be more precise. Apparently they wander from world to world hoping to find a new place to live, until they inevitably find a planet that’s infested with Xenomorphs. It’s a basic concept and one which follows a lead character named Fiona. She’s been described as a “Mary Elizabeth Winstead type.” The report goes further into spoiler territory with the plot of the script. But it essentially follows a more traditional Alien narrative, albeit with a few interesting changes here and there.
As for what Disney hopes to achieve with this reboot, it seems they want to launch a new franchise. Their goal is to “launch multiple installments coming every 1-2 years.” What’s more, while the site didn’t give any details for any possible new Predator movies, they did say we could “get an Alien and Predator movie every year alternating.”
Of course, all of these details should be taken with a grain of salt. What’s more, these stem from an early script draft – which means even if these details are legitimate, they will more than likely change over the course of production. Still, it’s an interesting glimpse into the possible mindset Disney has regarding continuing the Alien and Predator franchises.