Ridley Scott returns to ‘Alien’ franchise amid ‘The Dog Stars’ box office failure

Director Ridley Scott is making headlines for two major developments in his film career. First, he has announced his return to the ‘Alien’ franchise to write a new installment. This project will serve as a direct sequel to ‘Alien: Covenant’ (2017), picking up the story of the android David, played by Michael Fassbender. Scott expressed that while the recent ‘Alien: Romulus’ was ‘OK’, he believes the franchise ‘needs some help’ and intends to explore themes of artificial intelligence spiraling out of control.

Simultaneously, Scott’s latest film, ‘The Dog Stars’, has experienced a significant box office failure. Despite a substantial budget estimated between $70 million and $110 million, the post-apocalyptic film saw a disappointing opening weekend, earning approximately $8 million in the US and $11.3 million internationally. Critics have largely panned the film, citing issues with its pacing and inconsistent tone, marking it as one of the weakest starts in the director's recent career.