The full trailer for Alien: Romulus has finally been revealed, and fans are mostly excited for what director Fede Álvarez will bring to the franchise when the horror film releases August 16. Of course, that’s not all that fans have to anticipate; Alien: Rogue Incursion, a VR game releases in time for the holidays, and the FX Alien television series is set to follow in 2025.
Assuming Alien: Romulus is a huge success (which all signs point to for now), what should 20th Century Studios do next for the mainline films? They might take inspiration from a surprising source.
The Predator franchise practically achieved a resurrection as a result of the the 2022 standalone film Prey. The film succeeded on many levels, but the fact that it wasn’t burden by the awkward lore of recent films, nor pressured to continue mainline stories in a forced manner, freed the film to simply tell a good story. And it did so, without breaking canon.
Enter Aliens: Phalanx. If 20th Century Studios is looking for a good follow up to Alien: Romulus, adapting Scott Sigler’s 2020 novel to the silver screen could be exactly the kind of new life needed to keep the Xeno mojo going.
Titan Books previews Aliens: Phalanx as follows:
“Ataegina was an isolated world of medieval castles and rich cultures—vibrant until the demons rose and slaughtered ninety percent of the planet’s population. Swarms of lethal creatures with black husks, murderous claws, barbed tails and dreaded “tooth-tongues” rage across the land. Terrified survivors hide in ruined mountain keeps, where they eke out a meager existence. Skilled runners travel the treacherous paths between keeps, maintaining trade and sharing information. If caught, they die screaming.”
The Alien franchise has thoroughly explored the realm of haunted spaceships and doomed colonies. Why not expand the stage for science-fiction’s most terrifying creature? The novel has a fantastic twist, which ensures the film adaptation wouldn’t break canon. Much like Prey, the lack of advanced weaponry and military tactics would allow audiences to reconnect with the power and terror of the Xenomorph.
Tell us what you think! Should 20th Century Studios adapt the novel Aliens: Phalanx as a standalone film? Share your reactions in the comments below or join the conversation in the Boss Rush Network Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.
Featured Image: Titan Books, 20th Century Studios
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