The Alien franchise is very much alive and moving forward. After the strong performance of Alien: Romulus in 2024, a sequel was quickly put into development. The film earned over 351 million dollars worldwide on a budget of around 80 million and was widely praised for steering the franchise back toward raw, claustrophobic horror. That success made a continuation almost inevitable.

Director Fede Álvarez, who directed and co-wrote Romulus with Rodo Sayagues, initially confirmed that a sequel script was in progress and that filming could begin as early as late 2025. At the time, it looked like he would return to direct the next installment.

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Since then, plans have shifted slightly.

Álvarez has completed the script with Sayagues, but he has confirmed he will not be directing the sequel. Instead, he and Ridley Scott are expected to remain involved as producers while the studio searches for a new director to take the helm. That means the sequel is still happening, but production timing may adjust depending on who ultimately steps in to direct.

What has not changed is the intention to continue the story that Romulus began. The ending clearly left room for Rain and Andy to return, and both Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson are widely expected to reprise their roles, though full casting confirmations for the sequel have still not been formally announced.

There has also been online speculation about crossovers or a revival of Alien vs. Predator, but those ideas remain rumors. No official plans for a crossover have been confirmed. For now, the focus appears to be on expanding the darker, more grounded direction that Romulus established.

Meanwhile, the broader universe continues to grow. The television series Alien: Earth, created by Noah Hawley, is expanding the franchise on the small screen and signals that the studio sees long-term value in building out the Alien mythology beyond just theatrical releases.

So where does that leave the sequel in 2026? The script is written. Producers are attached. The project is active. The main unknown is who will direct and when cameras will officially roll.

One newer rumor suggests Michael Sarnoski (A Quiet Place: Day One) is being considered, but this has not been officially confirmed by the studio.

The important part is this: the franchise is not retreating. After years of uneven entries, Romulus proved there is still real appetite for intimate, terrifying space horror. The next chapter is coming. It just may arrive under a slightly different creative captain.