by Disney’s New Alien Movie: Why It’s Both Exciting and Worrying for the Same Reason
By a 25-year-old sci-fi fan who still gets chills watching the chestburster scene from 1979’s Alien
As someone who grew up loving sci-fi horror and constantly flipping between Alien and Aliens on late-night weekends, I have mixed feelings about the news of Disney’s latest installment in the Alien franchise. The new Alien film, directed by Fede Alvarez, is generating a buzz—and for good reason. But at the same time, it’s also stirring up some legitimate concerns for long-time fans like me.
To be honest, the Alien franchise is one of the most unpredictable film series out there. Some entries are iconic masterpieces that changed the game, while others… well, they kind of crashed and burned. That’s why this new standalone movie from Alvarez feels like both a fresh start and a potential misstep. Let me explain why this film is both exciting and worrying—for the exact same reasons.
Why Disney’s New Alien Movie Is a Big Deal
Now, Disney owns the rights to the franchise through its acquisition of 20th Century Fox, and they’ve greenlit a new standalone Alien movie. Directed by Fede Alvarez, who gave us the chilling Don’t Breathe, this project has potential. What excites me—and a lot of fans—is the idea that this won’t be tied down by the complicated lore of the prequels, especially the storyline of the rogue android David, played by Michael Fassbender.
What’s Exciting
Standalone Format: This means the movie won’t rely on previous plots. A clean slate gives Alvarez the freedom to build new characters, scenarios, and horror without explaining ancient engineers or android gods.
Back-to-Basics Horror: Fans are hopeful that Alvarez will take the franchise back to its horror roots. The original Alien wasn’t just a monster movie—it was a masterclass in suspense and fear of the unknown.
A New Vision: After years of Ridley Scott’s creative grip, handing over the reins to a fresh director with horror chops could be what this franchise desperately needs.
But Here’s Why It’s Also Worrying
Now, let’s look at the other side of the coin. As much as I want this movie to succeed, I can’t ignore some valid concerns.
1. Wrong Timing?
Honestly, this movie would have hit so much harder if it came a decade ago. After Alien: Resurrection, the franchise drifted aimlessly for years. We got the Alien vs. Predator spin-offs, which were entertaining at best and a mess at worst. By 2011, the series needed a reset.
Instead of giving us a clean, standalone horror film back then, Scott gave us Prometheus—an ambitious but uneven prequel that focused more on mythology than on the terror that made Alien iconic. We waited years, and instead of getting a fresh new chapter, we got philosophical alien gods and existential dread.
In 2025, this standalone idea finally arrives, but it may be too little, too late to reignite the fanbase’s passion.
2. David’s Shadow Still Looms
Even though Alvarez’s movie is supposed to be standalone, you can’t totally ignore the previous continuity. Prometheus and Covenant heavily focused on David—an android obsessed with creation and destruction. His storyline ended unresolved, leaving fans hanging.
If this new movie completely ignores David, it risks feeling disconnected. But if it brings him back, we might be dragged into the confusing web of android philosophy and space mythology again. It’s a delicate balance.
So, How Can Alvarez’s Movie Win Fans Back?
Here’s the trick: the movie can acknowledge the past without being shackled by it. One of the best examples of this is how the original Alien subtly built the world of Weyland-Yutani—the corrupt corporation behind everything shady. They didn’t explain everything, but you felt their presence through greed, manipulation, and sinister intentions.
Alvarez’s film can do the same. Maybe there’s a new crew on a distant planet or spaceship who stumbles across the remnants of David’s experiments. We don’t need David to show up, but the horror he left behind—twisted Xenomorph variants, mysterious AI logs, failed creations—could give the film thematic weight and tie it back to Covenant.
This would keep long-time fans engaged while allowing new audiences to jump in without needing a lore crash course.
Alien Fans Want Fear, Not Philosophy
As a 25-year-old who’s seen Alien multiple times and still feels tense during the air duct scenes, I can tell you what most fans really want: pure sci-fi horror
- We want claustrophobic corridors.
- We want a terrifying, unstoppable alien threat.
- We want isolated, flawed human characters trying to survive.
- And we want mystery, not lengthy dialogues about ancient beings.
If Alvarez can bring that back, this movie might just resurrect the franchise in a way no sequel or prequel ever could.
Final Verdict: Epic Win or Total Flop?
At the end of the day, Disney’s new Alien movie walks a fine line. It has all the ingredients for a major comeback—an experienced horror director, a standalone story, and an opportunity to return to the franchise’s roots. But it also carries the weight of past mistakes and fan fatigue.
As a long-time fan and sci-fi blogger, I’m cautiously optimistic. I want this to be the movie that makes the Alien franchise scary again. Not philosophical, not overly complicated—just straight-up spine-chilling.
So is this Disney’s next epic sci-fi win or a total misfire? We’ll have to wait and see, but I’ll be there opening night, popcorn in hand, ready to find out.
