Prometheus 3: News On The Alien: Covenant Sequel

With several Alien and Predator projects in the making, the future of the franchise seems somewhat promising under Disney. But what became of Prometheus 3 (sometimes called Alien: Awakening), Ridley Scott's sequel to Alien: Covenant, and the third part in the planned prequel trilogy? In this article, find out the disappointing status of the movie, how the story of David and the Engineers could continue, and how other Alien projects could still connect to the prequel characters and motifs.

The Unlikely Prospect of "Prometheus 3"

Prometheus 3 (or Alien: Awakening) is not in active development anymore, and in the worst case, cancelled. Given the lukewarm reception and box office struggles of "Prometheus" and its sequel, "Alien: Covenant," the likelihood of "Prometheus 3" materializing has diminished considerably. Ridley Scott's ambitious narrative, which sought to explore the origins of the iconic Xenomorphs and their creators, the Engineers, may remain unfinished. This shift marks a crucial juncture in the franchise's history, as Disney, the new custodian of the "Alien" legacy, appears to be charting a course that departs from Scott's prequel series. Ridley Scott has moved on to direct other projects while his age still allows it, mostly focusing on historical epics, like Napoleon and Gladiator 2.

Continuing David's Story In "Prometheus 3"

"Prometheus 3," had it come to fruition, would have continued the story of David, the enigmatic android with an unhealthy god complex. At the end of the last movie, David had full control over the 2000 colonists and 1140 embryos onboard the USCSS Covenant, in addition to the two proto-eggs he carried with him. The ship was headed to Origae-6, and David had no reason to change its course. Presumably, David would continue his sick experiments on the planet, waking up colonists one by one, and making full use of the two facehuggers available, possibly producing an Alien Queen. Both Daniels and Tennessee were also alive but in stasis, and David would have no motivation for making a quick awakening for them.

The Engineer Connection In "Alien: Awakening"

Additionally, Ridley Scott hinted at a storyline involving the return of the Engineers. In this envisioned sequel, the Engineers would have found their planet decimated by the Black Goo Pathogen, leading to an investigation by new characters, including the Engineers themselves. The narrative could have taken us to different planets - either the Engineers' home planet as seen in "Alien: Covenant," Origae-6, or perhaps even LV-426 from the original "Alien." This sequel would likely have bridged the gap between the "Prometheus" series and the original "Alien" film, potentially revealing the origins of the derelict spacecraft and the doomed Engineer found by the crew of the Nostromo. Perhaps the LV-426 derelict ship would have just crash-landed a few years before the events of Alien, and contained a familiar Engineer, or even David or Daniels in the Engineer suit.

A Franchise in Need of Rejuvenation

The "Alien" franchise, post-"Aliens," has been a rollercoaster of creative highs and lows (mostly lows). The series began to stray from its original blend of science fiction and horror, losing the unique balance that made the 1979 film a genre-defining masterpiece. With each new installment, including the somewhat badly received Alien vs. Predator movies, the franchise seemed to drift further from its roots. The later movies have often introduced bigger and "badder" Alien hybrids, while not focusing enough on the script and characters. Often times, the Alien games would be frontrunners of quality in the series, with highlights being Alien: Isolation and Aliens: Dark Descent. With Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, new Alien projects became possible.

The Question Of "Alien 5" By Neill Blomkamp

Among the Alien projects being recently developed, another intriguing chapter was the subsequent cancellation of "Alien 5" by Neill Blomkamp. This project, which had generated significant interest among fans, was envisioned as a direct sequel to James Cameron's "Aliens," potentially bypassing the events of "Alien 3" and "Alien: Resurrection." Blomkamp's vision for "Alien 5" promised a return to the action-packed roots of "Aliens," complete with the return of iconic characters, including Hicks and Newt. However, this sequel was ultimately shelved in favor of Ridley Scott's "Alien: Covenant," a decision that redirected the franchise's trajectory and left fans wondering about the untapped potential of Blomkamp's concept. But now both continuations are canceled, with Alien: Awakening not moving forward, nor is Alien 5.

Alien V By Walter Hill

Separate from Neill Blomkamp's canceled Alien 5, longtime franchise producer and writer Walter Hill also developed an early concept often referred to as "Alien V." According to comments shared by Sigourney Weaver in 2025, Hill had written a story treatment that explored Ripley's place in a far-future society, possibly involving Ripley 8 after Alien: Resurrection. The idea reportedly leaned more toward themes of legacy, identity, and the long-term consequences of humanity's encounters with the Xenomorphs. This would make it tonally different from both the action-heavy Aliens sequels and Ridley Scott's prequel films. Despite the existence of this treatment, it is unclear if Alien V moved beyond the conceptual stage and is in active development.

A Sequel To Alien: Romulus

Alien: Romulus was released in 2024 and marked a deliberate return to the franchise’s horror roots, setting its story between Alien and Aliens rather than continuing the Prometheus storyline. Directed by Fede Álvarez, the film focused on a younger cast and a more contained survival-horror narrative, a shift that was generally well received by both critics and audiences. Following its commercial success, development on a direct sequel, often referred to as Alien: Romulus 2, began in 2025. Álvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues completed a script for the follow-up, with the intention of continuing the story of Rain and the android Andy, although no official title or release date has been announced. While Álvarez is not currently expected to return as director, he remains involved as a producer alongside Ridley Scott.

A Second Season To Alien: Earth

Alien: Earth marked the first live-action television series in the Alien franchise and expanded the universe under the direction of Noah Hawley. The series shifted the focus toward corporate power and emerging technologies on Earth, with the Prodigy Corporation positioned as a major player. Central to the events of the first season was the crash of the USCSS Maginot, an incident that exposed dangerous bioforms and set off a chain reaction of corporate fallout. Following the release of the first season, a second season entered development, confirming Disney and FX's confidence in the show as an ongoing project. The second season is expected to release in 2027. Alien: Earth is the closest project in the Alien timeline to Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, allowing for limited narrative connections.

Bringing All Characters Together

With Predator: Badlands expanding the Predator timeline and reintroducing Weyland-Yutani, the franchise has quietly laid the groundwork for larger crossover-style storytelling. Future projects could plausibly bring together survivors, androids (or copies of them), and rival factions from different corners of the Alien and Predator universes (mirroring Fast Five or Infinity War). Characters such as Rain and the android Andy from Alien: Romulus, alongside Dek and Thia from Predator: Badlands, could be drawn into the same conflict with Weyland-Yutani or the Xenomorphs. Even David, whose fate after Alien: Covenant remains unresolved, could resurface as a lingering influence rather than a central protagonist. Characters from vastly different eras could be united through ship-based cryosleep or Predator stasis technology, which has long been used to preserve prey. This kind of convergence could ultimately take the form of a new Alien vs. Predator 3 (or an Alien vs. Predator reboot).

Conclusion

With the current status of Alien movies under Disney, Prometheus 3 (or Alien: Awakening) is not likely to happen, similarly to Alien 5 by Neill Blomkamp. However, the characters from Alien: Covenant, including the Engineers, could still show up in an Alien: Romulus sequel and the FX TV series, although perhaps in a smaller role, or even a cameo. Rather than continuing the Prometheus storyline, the franchise now appears committed to exploring new corners of the Alien universe, leaving Prometheus 3 as an unresolved but largely closed chapter.

Tag Categories: Upcoming Alien And Predator Movies