Interviewed by the Los Angeles Times while promoting The Dog Stars, Scott confirmed that this sequel was still in development and that it would once again center on David, the android portrayed by Michael Fassbender.
A prospect that leaves one a little perplexed, given how mixed the reception to the first two installments was (and yet...), and how the character of David, fascinating on paper, has sometimes given the impression of coming straight out of an AI. Scott, for his part, remains clearly convinced of his creation's potential.
“AI can go off the rails”
He explains that the story would pick up with David creating a “brave new world for himself,” while saying he remains fascinated by this defective artificial intelligence character: “AI can go off the rails, and when they do, it's like a bomb.”
A little over a year ago, Scott had nevertheless suggested that he was done with the franchise and seemed to have passed the baton to Fede Álvarez, director of Alien: Romulus, to helm a sequel to that film. At the same time, the series Alien: Earth aired on FX, with a second season currently in production.
Hollywood in all frankness
Information released several months ago indicated that Álvarez had left the Romulus sequel because of creative differences, possibly linked to Scott, while the French filmmaker Sébastien Vaniček had also been associated with another Alien project, with no direct connection to Romulus.
Earlier this year, Scott also told Radio Times that the possibility of telling other stories around David was “extremely fascinating.” Will Scott's film eventually get the green light? We'll have to wait and see.