Fans of the Alien series finally have an estimated release date for the new film directed by Fede lvarez.
The yet-to-be-released title is the eighth installment in the wildly popular sci-fi/horror franchise that began with Ridley Scott’s 1979 epic Alien, which pits humans against dark depths and deadly The alien creatures of the 1980s faced off and were killed one by one. Over the past forty years, these concepts, plots, and characters have continued in countless sequels and prequels, games, web series, and other media, including the critically acclaimed Alien (1986) and its popular crossover offshoot Alien vs. Predator , which pitted aliens against another horde of terrifying creatures from the ’80s horror universe. The first two Alien films are undoubtedly considered high classics of the alien horror genre and favorites of sci-fi and horror fans.
Disney has announced that Alvarez’s Alien movie will hit theaters on August 16, 2024. That puts the film at the end of the summer blockbuster season, but ahead of a string of horror seasons that typically open in September. lvarez’s Alien, starring Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu, has been described as an “original stand-alone feature film” independent of two recent prequels, Prometheus and Alien : Covenant storyline.
lvarez, best known for 2013’s Evil Dead remake and 2022’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel, co-wrote the film with Evil Dead’s Rodo Sayagues. That means there could be plenty of scares and plenty of gore in an already well-respected franchise. The original sci-fi ultimate heroine, Sigourney Weaver, has reportedly retired from her alien-fighting days, but a new infusion of talent and storylines offers good hope for the beloved series.
20th Century hasn’t announced the title of an Alien sequel, but the latest installment comes amid renewed interest in the series. That’s further exacerbated by Noah Hawley’s upcoming Alien TV series, which will eventually be released on FX Hulu, bringing the classic back into the limelight. The announcement is also good news at a time when many movies and series are experiencing major delays as writers fight for compensation and rights due to the Writers Guild of America strike.
lavares’ Alien movie opens on August 16, 2024.