Ridley Scott Says Covenant Sequel Is Coming, Regrets Blade Runner Rights
Ridley Scott says a sequel to his 2017 film Alien: Covenant is still in development. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Scott told the L.A. Times the film would center on Michael Fassbender's android David, who is building a "brave new world" for himself. The director noted his fascination with the rogue AI character, stating, "AIs can go off. And if they do, it’s like a bomb."
This is not the first time Scott has mentioned plans for a Covenant follow-up. The project may have to contend for studio resources with a sequel to the recent hit Alien: Romulus, which is also in early development. Some speculation suggests a future film could connect storylines from both Covenant and Romulus.
Scott also offered praise for Noah Hawley's new Alien television series, calling its initial season "pretty damn good."
On another front, Scott expressed regret over his past handling of the Blade Runner franchise. He said that, due to decisions made by his representatives at the time, he no longer controls the intellectual property rights. The upcoming Prime Video series Blade Runner 2099, set for November 25, lists Scott as an executive producer, but he is not creatively involved.
The director also briefly discussed artificial intelligence, claiming he doesn't use AI in his filmmaking process. "I can compete with an AI without any problem making images," Scott said, while acknowledging the technology's inevitable rise.
