The canceled sequel to Alien: Covenant would have concluded a controversial retcon that the newer movies created. The Alien movies’ timeline has always been complicated in terms of the chronological narrative and lore, with the introduction of its prequels and sequels creating inconsistencies throughout the films. Long-time fans enjoyed the original movie because it had a simple storyline with tension, memorable characters, and mysterious aliens that wreaked havoc on a crew in space. Since the franchise became so popular, it was no surprise that Ridley Scott wanted to expand the universe to explain the lore and provide backstories to the classic xenomorphs.
Although Alien: Covenant and Prometheus were good films that held the right amount of tension and action, they did leave room for controversial retcons, including changes to the Alien vs. Predator shared universe. From changing the chestburster gestation process to ignoring Weyland Corp’s origins to birthing xenomorphs without a queen, these movies changed a few details from previous Alien movies, leading to a controversial debate among audiences who prefer the original lore. One sequel could have doubled down on a particularly contentious retcon, however, by delving into Michael Fassbander’s character, David, and how his plot twist changed the entire franchise.
Ridley Scott’s Covenant Sequel Would Have Confirmed David As The Alien Creator
Right after the release of the film, Ridley Scott teased a Covenant sequel that would explain more about David being the potential xenomorph creator. Covenant’s ending suggests David’s experimentation with pathogens created new life forms, and those creatures became the iconic aliens audiences saw in the first Alien. These evolving creature designs were a product of David’s plan to create more intelligent and “worthy” organisms. Although David revealed his experiments and reasoning for producing new life forms such as the protomorph, it was never confirmed to be true in the film. A sequel could have confirmed David as being the ultimate creator of the original xenomorph.
Now, it’s too late for an Alien: Covenant sequel since the film was released back in 2017, plus Disney’s Alien film is expected to reboot the franchise. Even though confirmation of how the xenomorphs were created would’ve given audiences peace of mind after David’s shocking revelation, moving on to new, consistent storylines would be better for the franchise’s future. Focusing on the mystery surrounding these aliens and their purpose is far more effective than solely relying on an android creator, who might not even be telling the truth regarding his experiments in Covenant.
Why Prometheus & Covenant’s Alien Retcon Is So Controversial
Both Prometheus and Covenant retcon the Alien movies in various ways, including the reveal of David being the creator. This retcon became so controversial because it removes the mystery surrounding the xenomorph and dulls the exciting impact of the original film. Using the prequels to expand the universe and lore is fun enough for audiences, but there’s no need to reveal a progenitor who apparently created the world’s deadliest organism. Instead, making other movies that explore the future of these creatures would suit the franchise’s narrative better, rather than going too deep into their history and origin.
The lore in the Alien vs. Predator films was also fun because they focused on mysterious creatures that were completely new to humanity. They didn’t have detailed backstories or creators, which made them even more strange and frightening. Those creatures bring back the nostalgia of the iconic Alien films starring Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley combined with the Predator universe, but none of it is canon after Prometheus and Covenant, which retcon the xenomorphs as creatures from the 22nd century. With the Alien: Covenant sequel not happening, this massive story change will never be concluded.
