In space no one can hear you scream. Did reading that sentence give you a chill? I know I got one just from writing it. In recent months our excitement for Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant has reached a fever pitch. Between great casting news and the reveal that the film would get in touch with the franchise’s roots, we genuinely believe that Covenant can’t get here fast enough. Luckily for us, the filmmakers seem to have realized that as well and acted accordingly.
According to ComicBook.com, 20th Century Fox has moved up the release date for Alien: Covenant by two months. While the studio originally intended to release the horror movie on October 6, 2017, they have bumped its release to the end of summer, on August 4, 2017. It’s difficult to say whether or not this decision will harm or help Covenant at the box office. While the film has obviously become a highly anticipated franchise release, releasing it in the summer will pit it against some fairly heavy hitters such as (but not limited to) Wonder Woman, the Spider-Man reboot, and War for the Planet of the Apes.
The primary reason for this decision seems to be the recent announcement that FOX has added two new Marvel films to their upcoming slate. It remains unclear what Marvel film will fill Alien: Covenant’s slot, but the generally accepted theories include a Gambit solo movie – starring Channing Tatum – or a Deadpool spin-off such as New Mutants or X-Force. That decision brings us the next Alien movie two months sooner than expected, so we're in no position to complain.
The hope regarding Alien: Covenant is that it will fill the mythology gaps between the Alien franchise and the Prometheus franchise. Centering upon a space craft called the Covenant, the ship’s crew discovers a planet that they believe to be a paradise for their potential colony. However, as fans of the Alien franchise have come to expect over the years, nothing is as it seems on this mysterious planet. They soon discover android David (Michael Fassbender) from the failed Prometheus expedition, and a deadly secret hidden within their potential colony.
Sounds scary enough, now let's see if Ridley Scott can pull it off. As with all other major Hollywood projects, we will keep you posted on all of the latest and greatest information related to the upcoming release of Alien: Covenant. Our hope remains high that the film will shed even more light onto the series’ deadly xenomorph creatures, and return the series to its horror roots. No one can hear you scream in space, but on August 4, 2017 you will most certainly hear me screaming in my local movie theater.
