After generating a tremendous amount of buzz following those striking first pieces of concept art, all has been quiet on Neill Blomkamp’s anticipated Alien reboot-cum-sequel – at least, until now. Taking to Instagram, the District 9 and Elysium director has shared a new image for the film, all the while adding that the project itself is “going very well.”
It is essentially a status update that confirms Alien 5 – or whatever it will end up being titled – is still simmering away in development, as Blomkamp hunkers down to bring his vision to life at Fox. Once again starring Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley and Michael Biehn’s refigured Hicks, the artwork emphasizes the tone of the filmmaker’s project, and we understand that the reboot will attempt to combine the haunted-house-in-space elements from the first film with the action-oriented feel of Cameron’s adorned sequel, Aliens.
Without further ado, here is said picture.
Whatever direction Neill Blomkamp is steering Fox’s monstrous IP, it’s clear his vision is quite ambitious. Not too long ago the director revealed that his take on the franchise could span more than one film, though it will in no way tread on the toes of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus 2 – another sequel quietly ticking over in development.
As for the Alien lore, while Blomkamp has spoke extensively about the revered first two installments in the series, his upcoming Alien reboot won’t undo the groundwork laid by Alien 3 and Resurrection. Despite the fact that each sequel pales in comparison to its predecessors, it’ll be interesting to see how the director handles the IP. Sales for The Creative Assembly’s stellar Alien: Isolation proved that the franchise still holds a remarkable amount of cache even after all these years, we’re just hoping that Blomkamp’s final product delivers on the promise of the concept art.
According to Biehn, production is set to get underway on Fox’s Alien reboot next month, meaning that the project is likely being lined up for a release at the tail-end of 2016 or, in the more likely scenario, the opening stages of 2017.
