Ridley Scott's upcoming film, Alien: Romulus, is set to be released on August 16th, 2024. 'Alien: Romulus' is the next installment in the sci-fi/horror-thriller franchise. The film takes the franchise back to its roots and follows a group of young space colonizers who encounter a terrifying life form while scavenging a derelict space station. The movie stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. It is directed by Fede Alvarez and produced by Ridley Scott. 'Alien: Romulus' will have a stand-alone story that does not tie in with the previous movies, aiming to attract both die-hard fans and newcomers to the franchise. The plot revolves around a group of young men and women on a remote space outpost who encounter Facehuggers and Xenomorphs. The details about the location and potential sequels are still unknown. [e6fe0089]
The Alien franchise has captivated audiences for decades, with the original film establishing the path for numerous sequels. However, the lore of the series took a turn with the release of Prometheus, the first prequel that delves into the events preceding Alien. In Prometheus, it is revealed that the Xenomorphs, the iconic alien creatures, were created by the Engineers, an extraterrestrial species. The Engineers designed the Xenomorphs as a biological weapon, while also creating human beings. Their ultimate goal was to restart Earth's ecosystem and eradicate all terrestrial life. The black liquid discovered in the ring-like ships on planet LV-223 in Prometheus possesses the ability to alter any organism it comes into contact with, giving rise to monstrous creatures within them. In Alien: Covenant, the android David continues the Engineers' experiments in an attempt to create the perfect monster, resulting in the emergence of the Xenomorphs. The Deacon creature, which resembles the Xenomorphs, emerges from an Engineer's body in Prometheus, further solidifying the connection between the Engineers and the creation of both human beings and Xenomorphs. [3638a256]
Ridley Scott's Alien is his only entry into the horror genre, which is considered a missed opportunity. Alien set a new standard in horror by bringing the genre to outer space. Despite the success of Alien and its sequels, Scott has never revisited the horror genre and has primarily focused on sci-fi and historical epics. Scott's lack of horror movies is seen as a major missed opportunity, considering his talent for creating immersive atmospheres and building narrative tension. While Scott hasn't directed any horror films since Alien, he has produced horror projects and may eventually return to the genre. The Alien franchise helped launch the careers of David Fincher and Joss Whedon. It would be interesting to see what Scott could bring to the horror genre today, 45 years after he first redefined it. [e6e62077]
Sigourney Weaver, known for her roles in 'Alien' and 'Avatar', is set to receive the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. The festival director praised her significant contributions to cinema, highlighting her collaborations with renowned directors. Weaver's upcoming projects include 'Dust Bunny' with Mads Mikkelsen and 'The Gorge' with Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. The Venice Film Festival will run from August 28 to September 7. Weaver will receive the award alongside Peter Weir, who will also be honored with a Golden Lion. Alberto Barbera, the director of the Venice Film Festival, lauded Weaver's contributions to both art-house cinema and mainstream movies. Weaver's rise to stardom began with her role as Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott's 1979 film 'Alien'. She later reprised this role in James Cameron's 1986 movie 'Aliens', earning her first Academy Award nomination. Over the years, she has continued to captivate audiences in films like 'Gorillas in the Mist' and the 'Avatar' franchise. Weaver's upcoming projects include 'Dust Bunny' with Mads Mikkelsen and 'The Gorge' with Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. The full line-up of the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival will be announced on July 23. [f9e85f20]
Kate Winslet, star of 'Titanic', received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Munich International Film Festival. The award was presented to her by David Kross, her co-star from 'The Reader'. Winslet talked about her latest film, 'Lee', in which she plays war photographer Lee Miller. 'Lee' is a British biographical drama film directed by Ellen Kuras and made its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Winslet expressed her excitement about the film and her role as a fully-credited producer. The Munich CineMerit Prize was awarded to Winslet for her life's work. The ceremony moderator mentioned that Winslet has won numerous awards but this was the one she was missing. The actress thanked Kross and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work on the film. [aba799a3]