The “Alien” franchise is heading back into the territory explored by Ridley Scott’s prequel films, with a new project in development at 20th Century Studios. Scott will produce the film, while Aaron Guzikowski has been brought on to write the screenplay. Early reports point towards a story connected to “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant”, leaving the events of “Alien: Romulus” outside its immediate focus.

The project marks a return to a storyline that has remained open since “Alien: Covenant” reached cinemas in 2017. Rather than picking up directly from the events of “Alien: Romulus” (2024), the new film is expected to revisit the mythology surrounding humanity’s origins, the Engineers and the experiments that shaped the franchise’s most disturbing creatures.

Guzikowski, known for writing Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners” and creating HBO’s “Raised by Wolves”, will work again with Scott, who previously collaborated with him on the science fiction series. Scott is producing alongside Michael Pruss through Scott Free Productions, with 20th Century Studios overseeing development. No director has been attached, and the plot remains undisclosed.

One character could provide the link between the new project and Scott’s earlier films: David, the android played by Michael Fassbender in both “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant”. Reports suggest that the character may feature in the story, although Fassbender’s return has yet to be confirmed. Across the two films, David developed an increasingly disturbing interest in creation, genetic manipulation and the limits of artificial intelligence, eventually placing himself in the position of an entity attempting to shape life according to his own vision.

“Alien: Covenant” left that ambition dangerously unresolved. Having impersonated his android counterpart Walter, David took control of the colony ship and its thousands of sleeping passengers, along with the embryos intended for a new settlement. His access to the vessel gave him the means to continue his experiments on an immense scale. The closing scenes offered no indication of what became of the colonists or how far his work would eventually reach.

Scott has previously spoken about his interest in continuing David’s story, particularly its exploration of artificial intelligence and the origins of the creatures at the heart of the “Alien” universe. A return to this part of the mythology could finally address the consequences of the android’s actions aboard the Covenant.

The film is still in early development, with its cast, director, release date and final narrative yet to be announced. It is also a separate project from the planned sequel to “Alien: Romulus”, which remains in development within the franchise.

For now, the return to the prequel storyline brings David’s unfinished experiments back into focus. “Prometheus” raised questions about humanity’s creators, while “Alien: Covenant” placed those questions in the hands of an android whose ideas of creation had become increasingly lethal. The next chapter may reveal what happened after he gained control of the Covenant and the lives held inside it.

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