A First Look at "Alien: Covenant"

Next summer brings us Ridley Scott's long promised/threatened Prometheus follow-up, Alien: Covenant. Promising to bridge the gap between Prometheus and the original Alien films, we will see the return of Michael Fassbender's android David (with Noomi Rapace's Shaw sitting this one out) and the introduction of a fresh crew of space victims. Our new heroine Katherine Waterston is seen here (in the shadows) in the first look at the film:

The film recently began filming, beating Neill Blomkamp's Ripley-focused installment to the production punch. While Blomkamp has released copious amounts of preproduction artwork to stir interest in his vision, Ridley Scott has kept the details of this iteration under wraps. This first look at least shows the series staying to its moody aesthetic with the hint of danger - is that a fire in the background? Why so chill, Katherine?

If there's another bit of hinting here, it is that Waterston could be more than a Ripley replica. The actress has been quickly making her mark with primo performances recently in Inherent Vice and Queen of Earth, but now she's joining the franchise ranks with this and November's Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It will be interesting to see how see handles the physical demands of the action/horror genre, but her soulful and sad work in Vice and Queen give hope that this badass lady will be more than skin deep. At the very least, we can expect a performance more human, sexy, and believable than what Prometheus offered.

Alien: Covenant opens August 4, 2017.

Comments

[BD]

I know Prometheus is a favorite critical punching bag, but I actually found the themes and (most of) the performances quite interesting. I'm an admitted sci-fi nerd, though. Looking forward to the sequel.

[Jono]

I agree with BD. Prometheus is not perfect, but I kind of love it. It was really successful as Sci-Fi in a way that the Star Trek films rarely achieve (they seem more focused on jokes and fast-moving action set pieces). Fassbender was great as the robot David and its one of my favorite performances of his. And I really like that they are linking these films with the Alien films.

[Jaragon]

"Prometheus" gets better every time I watch it

[Chris Feil]

All - I personally enjoy PROMETHEUS for its shaggier elements and general WTF-ness, but the storytelling is very sloppy. But again the bonkers moments are great

[Philip H.]

She looks like Holly Hunter

[paco.]

Steve Jobs reunion!