In the wake ofAlien: Romulus' success,Disney has a guaranteed sci-fi movie hit on its handsif the company chooses to pursue a new installment in theAlien vs. Predatorcrossover franchise. Timeline-wise, the latest entry in theAlienmovie franchise is sandwiched between Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic and James Cameron’s follow-up,Aliens. Directed by Fede Álvarez (2013’sEvil Deadre-imagining),Alien: Romulusdoesn’t feature Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, but it does retread familiar narrative beats as a group of disillusioned teenage space colonists raid an abandoned ship for supplies — only to encounterAlien’s Xenomorphs.
Álvarez’s installment sticks close to the franchise’s sci-fi horror roots, butAlien: Romulus' cast of teen charactersalso infuse the film with a distinct outer space-set slasher sensibility. Althoughthe director has said he has ideas for a sequel toRomulus, one of the movie’s biggest strengths is its standalone feel.Newcomers and long-time franchise fans alike can approachAlien: Romuluswithout feeling too lost or like they’re watching a remake. Still, it’s hard to throw out tradition entirely. If Disney really wants to capitalize on the film’s success,a newAlien vs. Predatoris a must.
A New Alien vs. Predator Would Be Massive After Prey & Alien: Romulus
Both Prey & Romulus Breathed New Life Into Their Respective Franchises
There’s no denying thata newAlien vs. Predatorwould be a massive movie event in the wake of bothAlien: RomulusandPrey, a prequel to thePredatormovies. If anything,Alien: Romulus' $289 million box office confirms Disneyhas come to an important crossroads with yet another beloved IP. AlthoughPrey, which was released exclusively on Hulu in 2022, didn’t have the opportunity to prove its box office might, the film was universally praised and, at the time, the most-watched premiere in Hulu’s history. Plus, both films are united by their fresh approach to well-worn franchises.
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Set in the Northern Great Plains in 1719,Preycenters on a Comanche hunter, Naru (Amber Midthunder). Eager to prove her warrior prowess, Naru gets in a little over her head when a Predator, an extraterrestrial being that hunts humans for fun, shows up. Although a crossover that featurescharacters fromPreyandAlien: Romulusisn’t really possible given the vastly differing timeframes,a newAlien vs. Predatorinstallment could find an inventive way to blend the films' distinct feels into an exciting thrill ride.Given the box office potential, Disney needs to do something with the spin-off series.
What Went Wrong With The First Two Alien vs. Predator Movies
The Crossover Movies Trade Good Scares & Stories For Gore
Although theAlien vs. Predatorspin-off films are great in concept, both installments were poorly executed. Featuring two of the biggest pop culture icons to come out of that era of sci-fi films, the franchises seemed destined to meet. In fact, eagle-eyed fans can spot anAlienEaster egg inPredator 2: a Xenomorph’s skull hangs from the hunter’s trophy wall, suggesting thatthe trophy-hunting Yautja has encountered a Xenomorph and lived to tell the tale. Unfortunately, what could’ve been the greatest sci-fi match-up ever feels like a paint-by-numbers gore fest.
…the firstAlien vs. Predatormovie is all about the spectacle of its bloodbath.
In the firstAlien vs. Predatormovie, a group of humans unearths a nest of Xenomorphs inside an ancient pyramid. According to the 2004 flick, the adult face-huggers were used as prey for the Yautja. Instead of relying on the character-driven narratives and tension-filled scares that make theAlienandPredatorfranchises so successful, the firstAlien vs. Predatormovie is all about the spectacle of its bloodbath. The sequel,2007’sAlien vs. Predator: Requiem, doubles down on being terrible, but it’s also near-impossible to see any of the actionin many wildly dark scenes.
Alien: Romulus’ Director Already Has An Idea For A New AvP Movie
Alien Vs. Predator Could Unite Romulus & Prey’s Directors
While giving interviews forAlien: Romulus,Álvarez teased his ideas forAlien vs. Predator. Somehow,Alien vs. Predatornever got a third installment, but that really could change. Although the filmmaker didn’t get into too many specifics, he mentioned that he’d love to direct the proposedAvPmovie alongsidePreydirector Dan Trachtenberg.“I’ll direct a half, and he’ll direct another half,” Álvarez suggested in the interview(viaDeadline). Contrary to what fans and critics have to say about theAlien vs. Predatormovies, both installments in the crossover spinoff were considered box-office successes.
I’m Excited For Alien: Romulus, But I’m Still Waiting For A Sequel To Divisive $240 Million Movie
While Alien: Romulus promises a thrilling return to the franchise’s sci-fi horror roots, we’re still frustrated that another story hasn’t concluded.
WithAlien: RomulusandPreyreinvigorating interest in the commercial series, it seems like a no-brainer to green-light an Álvarez-Trachtenberg team-up. Clearly,both directors understand the material on a deeper leveland have already proved capableof crafting action-packed, scare-filled blockbuster fare that also resonates in more meaningful ways. That sensibility is precisely what theAlien vs. Predatorfranchise has always lacked. Both installments banked on viewers' interest in seeing which ruthless extraterrestrial would stand victorious. Sometimes, an action movie hits the spot, butAlienandPredatorhave always been more thoughtful than that.
Alien vs. Predator Could Be Disney’s Answer To The Monsterverse
Prey and Romulus Proved That Moviegoers Are Still Interested In Both Franchises
Disney could useAvPas its answer to thehugely successful Monsterverse. Between the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU),Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney’s own animated fare, the company has proven itself to be a near-untouchable box office behemoth. Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox opened more doors — and bequeathed the company with even more IP giants. Already,PreyandAlien: Romulushave proved that movie-goers are still interested in what both franchises have to offer, butas excitement about the MCU and Star Wars wanes, Disney could useAvP’s crossover appealto set up its own Monsterverse.
Why Alien Vs. Predator 3 Never Happened (Despite AVPR’s Success)
Even though Aliens Vs Predator: Requiem was a financial success, Alien Vs Predator 3’s ambitious Alien prequel plans eventually fell through.
Not to be confused withUniversal Studios' failed Dark Universe, the Monsterverse is the shared universe of movies that features Godzilla, other Toho-created creatures, and King Kong. With five films and two TV series under its belt, the Monsterverse has been a commercial — and, in some cases, critical — success. While the Monsterverse offers proof of concept,Disney’s potentialAlien vs. Predatormovie doesn’t need to be as outlandish as aGodzilla x Kongflick.
“It’s a beautifully shot movie, using the Romulus space station as a playground for slaughter, moody lighting, and a few chill-inducing action scenes as it approaches obliteration in a stray asteroid belt.” -Graeme Guttmann-Screen Rant’s Alien: Romulus Review
IfAlien vs. Predator 3wants to scrap its connections to the otherAvPmovies or assert a new position in the timeline, it’s definitely the best moment to do so. With Ridley Scott’s finalAlienprequel trilogy movie up in the air, a newPredatorinstallment on the horizon, and fans clamoring for moreAlien,interest in both Disney-owned franchises is at a high after years of little to no traction. In fact, thanks toAlien: RomulusandPrey, the possibilities are endless when it comes to theAlien vs. Predatormovies' future.
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
