Particle.news

Studio Denies Report That 'Alien: Romulus' Sequel Has Been Shelved

20th Century’s production chief publicly rejected the claim about the sequel and left the franchise’s next moves uncertain.

Overview

  • A single industry report said the planned follow-up to Alien: Romulus had been “indefinitely shelved,” but that claim was based on an unnamed source and has not been confirmed by the studio.
  • 20th Century Studios President of Production Steve Asbell publicly replied to the report with a one-word denial, directly contesting the shelving claim.
  • Director Fede Álvarez left the director role last year while remaining a producer on the project, and the studio has been searching for a replacement filmmaker.
  • Industry reports say Brian Duffield is writing a separate Alien film that the studio favors, though it is not clear if that work is a rewrite of the Romulus follow-up or a distinct project.
  • Stars Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson have new major commitments that complicate any quick return to a Romulus sequel, which increases the chance the studio will pivot to other franchise entries if the direct sequel stalls.