“Dear Fede, good luck. Don't screw up.”
In 1979, in space, no one heard them scream – this group of researchers including the ultra-badass heroine played by Sigourney Weaver. Directed by Ridley Scott, Alien: The First Passenger was a revolution leading to many winks and references in other cinematographic universes, and has a series of films that can now be counted on two hands. Seven in total, without counting its extensions, sometimes directed by James Cameron, David Fincher and Jean Pierre Jeunet, and the last one, Alien: Romulus, is ordered by Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don't Breathe).
And even though Ridley Scott is no longer behind the camera for this Aliensince the commercial failure of Covenanthe produces and supports the Uruguayan in this new adventure. The day he passed the torch, the latter left his successor a frank and clear note, shared yesterday by Alvarez on Instagram:
“Dear Fede, good luck. Take care. Happy hunting. Don't screw up. All the best, Ridley Scott.”
Direct words that illustrate Ridley Scott's desire not to interfere in Fede Alvarez's work. Indeed, earlier, the director of Gladiator, Blade Runner and Kingdom of Heaven, had declared to the Los Angeles Times that he had been very cautious in his advice, trying to give as little as possible:
“The danger with all franchises is that they die unless someone suddenly decides to take it over. Fede is a burst of energy and I had to step back and let him do it.”
Because he himself does not like to receive them:
“It's hard to work with a person and their mother who gives you advice – the last thing you want is advice. I don't need advice. If I'm going to fall on my own sword and bleed, I'm going to say to myself: 'It's my fault.'
Falling and getting injured, Scott actually did that when he took over the franchise in 2012 with Prometheusthen in 2017 with Alien: Covenant – both of which have not received the expected acclaim. However, would Ridley Scott refuse advice? At least for Napoleon, This was not the case.
If the father ofAlien wasn't keen on giving advice to his protégé, the new kid in the Xenomorph arena couldn't do without it entirely:
“Ridley was always the person I went to for discussion, for approval and for criticism on certain things. It was a creative collaboration.”
On Alien Romulus, Cailee Spaeny watched horror movies, to stay in the mood
So it was necessary to find a middle ground by limiting his returns. Moreover, Ridley Scott was not the only one to give his approval on Alien: Romulussince James Cameron, director of the second part of the saga, also whispered valuable advice in Fede Alvarez's ear. So much so that in the end, the two fathers ofAlien loved this horror sequel, and Ridley Scott even wants to see a sequel:
“I hope Fede still has some up his sleeve because I think the film will work. It has a touch of genius.”
Drawing on his hemoglobin-soaked filmography, Alvarez makes from Alien: Romulus a seventh opus a totally distressing promise, where the Xenomorph massacres a band of young people aboard the ship Romulus. In the cast, we find Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla, Civil War), Isabela Merced (Madame Web) And Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone). The film will be released in theaters on August 14, while with or without advice, Ridley Scott returns behind the camera for another franchise, Gladiator II, which will be released on November 13th.