What Happened to Alien Franchise?

The 'Alien' franchise, originating with Ridley Scott's groundbreaking 1979 film, has evolved into a multi-media phenomenon spanning over four decades. After the initial quadrilogy featuring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, the series branched into crossover films with the Predator franchise and later, prequels directed by Scott himself: 'Prometheus' (2012) and 'Alien: Covenant' (2017). While these prequels explored the origins of the Xenomorph and its creators, they received mixed critical and commercial responses, with 'Alien: Covenant' grossing $240.9 million worldwide against a budget of $97-111 million, considered an underperformance compared to 'Prometheus'' $403.4 million.

Following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, the future of the 'Alien' IP entered a new phase. This led to a strategic expansion into both film and television, aiming to reinvigorate the franchise. A key turning point was the development of "Alien: Romulus," a standalone film directed by Fede Álvarez. Originally slated for a streaming-only release, studio executives were reportedly so impressed that it was granted a full theatrical release. The film, set between the events of 'Alien' (1979) and 'Aliens' (1986), premiered on August 16, 2024, and was a critical and commercial success, grossing $350.9 million worldwide against an $80 million budget. It was later added to Prime Video's streaming library on January 1, 2026.

Concurrently, the franchise made its debut on television with "Alien: Earth," a series created by Noah Hawley. This show, set two years before the original 1979 film, premiered on FX and Hulu on August 12, 2025. It was met with critical acclaim and strong viewership, leading to its renewal for a second season. Production for "Alien: Earth" Season 2 officially began in London in mid-2026, with Peter Dinklage, Tracey Ullman, Sam Spruell, and Jerome Flynn joining the cast. The series aims to expand the universe by bringing Xenomorphs to Earth for the first time, exploring corporate machinations by entities like Prodigy Corporation and the ever-present Weyland-Yutani.

Adding another layer to the franchise's complex future, original director Ridley Scott confirmed in August 2026 that he is actively writing a sequel to "Alien: Covenant." This project is intended to conclude the prequel storyline focusing on Michael Fassbender's android character, David, and his creation of a "brave new world." This development indicates a multi-pronged approach by Disney to the 'Alien' universe, with both new standalone stories like 'Romulus' and 'Earth,' and a continuation of Scott's prequel narrative. The franchise's total worldwide box office, including 'Alien: Romulus,' surpassed $1.947 billion as of September 2024, solidifying its status as one of the highest-grossing film series of all time.