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Happy Alien Day! And no, not for any supposed extraterrestrial beings watching from the shadows of our solar system, but for the iconic franchise that first began back in 1979. It’s an unofficial but widely celebrated fan holiday dedicated to the “Alien” franchise, observed every year on April 26.
Originally kicked off by fans and later embraced by the creators, Alien Day has become a moment where the sci-fi community revisits the films, shares theories, and celebrates everything from Ripley’s legacy to the wider universe of games, comics, and spinoffs. Studios often mark the occasion with announcements or re-releases, but for fans like me, it’s usually an excuse to plan a marathon and rewatch all the iconic films.
The franchise’s future is already looking seriously exciting. So instead of just rewatching Ripley go full survival mode for the hundredth time (no judgment, I’ll be doing it too), it’s worth taking stock of what’s actually coming next. Because whether it’s on screen, streaming, or in a controller-gripping panic at 2 a.m., the “Alien” universe is far from done with us yet.
Article continues below‘Alien: Romulus’ sequel
Following the huge success of “Alien: Romulus,” 20th Century Studios didn’t waste much time getting a sequel moving. A follow-up is already in early development, with Fede Álvarez (who directed and co-wrote the first film) having completed a script alongside his longtime collaborator Rodo Sayagues. That said, Álvarez isn’t expected to return to the director’s chair. Instead, he’s stepping into a producing role alongside Ridley Scott, as the franchise once again looks to hand the reins to a new filmmaker.
At the moment, Michael Sarnoski (“A Quiet Place: Day One”) is being lined up as the frontrunner to direct, which makes a lot of sense given his ability to balance tense, creature-driven horror with strong emotional stakes. That same approach would fit neatly with what “Romulus” did well, especially the relationship between Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her android brother Andy (David Jonsson).
Story-wise, the sequel is expected to pick up right after the events of “Alien: Romulus,” following Rain and Andy as they deal with what comes next after the Weyland-Yutani black site incident. Sadly, though, there's no estimated release date yet.
‘Alien Earth’ season 2
While the “Alien” films are rooted in survival horror, “Alien: Earth” expands the franchise into something bigger. As the first live-action series in this iconic universe, it shifts the action to Earth itself, set around 30 years before the original 1979 film, and explores how deeply powerful corporations shape this world.
After a strong debut that reportedly drew 9.2 million viewers in its first six days, FX quickly renewed the series for a second season. Showrunner Noah Hawley has even suggested the story could span “three to five seasons,” gradually moving closer to the timeline of the original film.
Season 2 is set to begin production in May 2026, with a move from Thailand to Pinewood Studios in London. Sydney Chandler returns as Wendy, the hybrid at the heart of the story, while Emmy-winner Peter Dinklage joins in a mystery role. He’s rumoured to be a high-level corporate figure.
Right now, we don’t have a release timeline or even any plot details, but with filming starting next month, it’s fair to assume we probably won’t get “Alien: Earth” season 2 until early 2027. But good things come to those who wait.
‘Alien: Isolation 2’
The gaming side of the “Alien” franchise is currently in what feels like a golden age, with multiple projects in development across different genres and platforms, all leaning into more atmospheric horror powered by modern tech like Unreal Engine 5.
The biggest upcoming title is the officially confirmed sequel to "Alien: Isolation." Announced in 2024 during the original game’s 10th anniversary, it’s early in development at Creative Assembly, with Al Hope returning. While details are very scarce, it’s expected to stay true to the first game’s tense survival horror design and its famously relentless Xenomorph AI. A release likely won’t arrive until 2027 or 2028 (hold back the tears).
That’s not it, though, in terms of gaming. Cold Iron Studios is also developing a sequel to "Aliens: Fireteam Elite," currently codenamed Project Avo! Targeting a 2026 release, it aims to refine the original with a stronger focus on tactical co-op play, including a shorter campaign and new modes designed to better reflect the tone of “Aliens.”
Meanwhile, Survios continues expanding its Rogue Incursion series. After launching in VR in 2024 and later expanding to consoles, a second part is already in development. It will continue Zula Hendricks’ story while introducing more enemy variety and refining gameplay based on feedback from the first installment.
‘Alien vs. Predator’ reboot
One of the biggest shifts happening behind the scenes is a renewed (and much more careful) interest in bringing “Alien vs. Predator” back. Unlike the early 2000s crossovers, which didn’t exactly win over critics, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell has suggested that a return is “probably” on the cards, but this time with a very different approach.
Instead of forcing a flashy crossover for the sake of it, the idea now is to build toward something more organic where characters from both the “Alien” and “Predator” timelines could realistically cross paths. That could mean figures like Naru (Amber Midthunder) or Rain Carradine eventually sharing a story with the “Predator” universe in a way that still respects the horror roots of both franchises.
A lot of that groundwork is already being laid through the “Predator” side of things, which has been gaining serious momentum under director Dan Trachtenberg. “Predator: Badlands” somewhat connects the two worlds since it introduced a Weyland-Yutani android named Thia (Elle Fanning). So it seems like instead of rushing into a crossover event, the studio seems happy to let both universes evolve on their own terms first. But it does mean a crossover movie is likely.
Untitled Ridley Scott film
Surprisingly, there have been several reports of an untitled Ridley Scott project within the “Alien” universe, though its status is currently very much in flux. In late 2024, following the commercial success of “Alien: Romulus,” it was reported that Scott had begun early development on a new “Alien” film. Again, nothing has been confirmed, but it’s widely speculated that this could be the long-discussed conclusion to his David storyline, following “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant.”
“Alien: Awakening” was actually the working title for Scott’s planned third prequel, originally intended to bridge the gap between “Covenant” and the 1979 original. At one point, the story was expected to follow the android David as he ventures further into unknown space, with possible returns of the Engineers also being explored.
More recently, however, Scott’s involvement has seemed less certain. In interviews throughout 2025 and into 2026, he’s been open about the possibility of stepping back from directing the franchise, saying, “I think I’ve done enough,” while still remaining involved in a producing capacity.
For now, his focus lies elsewhere. His next confirmed film is “The Dog Stars,” a post-apocalyptic sci-fi starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin, due in August 2026. He’s also attached to a Bee Gees biopic and “Freewalkers,” a Western, but there is currently no officially confirmed “Alien” film on his immediate slate. I just hope something gets announced so we can see Michael Fassbender back as the iconic character!
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