20th Century Studios has announced more information about its upcoming Alien film, the ninth entry in the highly popular series. Although the studio did not release the proposed title or plot details, it included cast additions while acknowledging that the film will track the saga of “a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.”

Cailee Spaeny (Mare of Easttown) had previously been announced as the lead character in the film, now to be joined by David Jonsson (Industry), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (Rosaline), Spike Fearn (The Batman) and Aileen Wu (Away from Home).

Fede Álvarez will be serving as the director, screenwriter, and producer, after his recent helming of several horror films, including The Girl in the Spider’s Web, Don’t Breathe, and the Evil Dead remake. The franchise’s original director Ridley Scott will be serving as executive producer along with Michael Pruss. Rodo Sayagues is listed as the screenwriter.

The original Alien premiered in 1979, and the film’s prequel series debuted in 2012 with Prometheus, followed by Alien: Covenant.
 
According to 20th Century Studios’ Steve Asbell, the deal was sealed based on a pitch by Álvarez, who touted it as a “really good story with a bunch of characters you haven’t seen before.”

Cailee Spaeny’s first major role was in the sci-fi action film Pacific Rim Uprising (2018), followed by appearances in Bad Times at the El Royale, On the Basis of Sex, and Vice. She also portrayed the lead character in the supernatural horror film The Craft: Legacy (2020). The actress has also appeared in several TV dramas, including Devs and Mare of Easttown.

The Uruguayan-born Álvarez once revealed that he turned down an offer to direct a film for Marvel Studios because he felt he would have little creative control over it.

Production on the new Alien movie is scheduled to begin on March 9 in Budapest.

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