10 Horror Movies That Were Cancelled Because Of Other Movies
2. Neill Blomkamp's Alien 5 Was Cancelled Because Of Ridley Scott's Prequel Plans
Prometheus was meant to be a bold new chapter for Alien. With original director, Ridley Scott, back in the cockpit, there was every reason to expect something spectacular.
But the overall consensus for Prometheus was mixed, and while Scott aimed to expand the mythology, the fanbase at large wasn't convinced.
Still, interest reignited when District 9 director, Neill Blomkamp, pitched a direct sequel to Aliens. Better yet, Sigourney Weaver and Michael Biehn were expected to reprise the roles of Ripley and Hicks respectively. Considering Hicks and Newt died anticlimactically off-screen in Alien 3, Blomkamp's retcon was the perfect opportunity to set things right.
With momentum building, it seemed logical for Scott to step aside and let Blomkamp take over. Instead, Scott pushed forward with a Prometheus sequel, Alien: Covenant, effectively killing Blomkamp's idea in the process.
Covenant went on to repeat many of Prometheus' criticisms, leaving audiences just as divided and confused as before. Scott had planned further sequels, but they never materialised, making the cancellation of Blomkamp's film more pointless in hindsight.