A follow-up to the successful sci-fi horror film Alien: Romulus is in the works, and a director with experience in the genre may be taking the lead. The 2024 film was a hit with both audiences and critics, earning $350 million globally and a high 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes. While a sequel was expected, many fans were surprised when Romulus director Fede Álvarez announced he wouldn’t be directing it.
According to Nexus Point News, director Michael Sarnoski is a potential candidate to direct the next Alien: Romulus movie. Neither Sarnoski nor 20th Century Studios have confirmed this news. Sarnoski made a strong directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film Pig, starring Nicolas Cage. He followed that up with A Quiet Place: Day One, a prequel to the popular horror series, which earned $262 million globally after its release on June 28, 2024. His next project, The Death of Robin Hood, is set to premiere in theaters on June 19, 2026.
Paramount Pictures
Some fans may be upset that Álvarez won’t be directing the next Alien: Romulus film, but this aligns with the franchise’s history of using a different director for each movie – until Ridley Scott directed Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. Álvarez has experience with horror franchises, having successfully rebooted Evil Dead in 2013 and created the original thriller Don’t Breathe. So, it’s logical that 20th Century Studios is seeking a director with a similar background, and Sarnoski seems like a good fit.
A potential complication for Sarnoski directing a new Alien movie is his commitment to Death Standing. He’s already signed on to write and direct the film adaptation of the video game, which is planned for release in 2027. Since Death Standing will be a live-action movie, Sarnoski will be very busy, especially if production starts before the end of the year. He’s also releasing another film, The Death of Robin Hood, through A24 this summer, adding to his full schedule.
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If director Sarnoski plans to begin work on Death Standing with a 2027 release in mind, the next Alien movie might not come out until 2028. This could actually work out well for 20th Century Studios and 20th Century Television, as they expect to start filming season two of Alien: Earth in the summer of 2026, likely meaning it will air in 2027. Considering Alien: Romulus is coming out in 2024 and the first season of Alien: Earth is scheduled for August 2025, it seems the studio wants to avoid releasing two Alien projects too close together. This would give Sarnoski the opportunity to direct Death Standing and then focus on his Alien film, potentially aiming for a 2028 or even 2029 release – which would coincide with the 50th anniversary of Ridley Scott’s original Alien movie.
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2026-03-12 23:47