Alien: Romulus Rumor On Sequel Cancellation Gets Blunt Response From Producer

Published Aug 1, 2026, 2:26 PM EDT

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Since the success of Fede Álvarez's standalone installment in 2024, the acclaimed director has been working on developing a sequel. Although the filmmaker confirmed that the script was complete in 2025, he won't return as the director. However, since that last update, the status of the Alien: Romulus sequel has been relatively quiet, and a recent report fueled speculation that the sci-fi project may have been cancelled.

World of Reel reported that the Alien: Romulus sequel was indefinitely shelved and that it was likely never being made, implying potential roadblocks from franchise creator Ridley Scott. Apparently, Álvarez wanted Michael Fassbender to reprise David, but Scott didn't want the Prometheus character appearing in any other director's movie.

The story also listed other obstacles that make the sequel's development difficult, including David Jonsson becoming the next Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cailee Spaeny's rumored X-Man casting, and Brian Duffield writing a different Alien movie for 20th Century Studios.

Several netizens and film pundits took notice of the story, resulting in strong reactions to the rumored cancellation. That response caught the attention of 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell, who bluntly denied the rumor with a simple "Nope" to one of the X tweets. Duffield, who is frequently mentioned in the report, reposted that tweet.

While the first two Alien movies are revered, the sci-fi franchise has endured hiccups, including the crossovers with Predator and Scott's polarizing prequels in the 2010s. Following Covenant's 2017 release, the franchise didn't see another installment until 2024 with Romulus, which crucially changed the franchise's standing.

Thanks to the overnight success, Álvarez expressed to The Hollywood Reporter that he had ideas for a sequel but didn't want to rush the process: "My philosophy is that you should never make [a sequel] in two years." At one point, he was interested in a third Alien vs Predator movie, as the latter franchise also enjoyed a revival under Dan Trachtenberg's leadership.

Alien: Romulus was originally planned as a straight-to-streaming release on Hulu before 20th Century Studios changed course and scheduled it for theaters in August 2024. The gamble was pivotal, with Álvarez's movie turning into a commercial and critical success.

Alien: Romulus reviews highlighted that the installment returned to its horror roots, with strong performances from Spaeny and Jonsson. The sci-fi movie also became a $350.9 million box-office success against an $80 million budget. As a result, the Alien installment was declared the franchise's saving grace and sparked new interest in the series.

In June 2025, the filmmaker stated that filming for the Alien: Romulus sequel was supposed to begin in October of that year, but that didn't come to fruition. Months later, Álvarez confirmed that he would remain as a producer but would "pass the torch" to the next director. While speaking at HorrorBound Weekend, he clarified that decision, saying: “I don't think I was ever going to. We always knew right when we finished – this is one of those things where you come in, and you do one, and get out."

As of writing, a director has yet to be announced to succeed him for the sequel. Although Asbell doesn't elaborate further or dispel certain details of the report, it's still a relieving confirmation that the Alien: Romulus sequel is alive and in the works.