Direct Answer: What Alien Movie Follows Prometheus
The Alien movie that directly follows Prometheus is Alien: Covenant, released in 2017 by 20th Century Fox. The film continues the story of the android David from Prometheus and brings the Alien franchise back to its horror roots with a new crew encountering the Xenomorphs on a remote planet. The movie was directed by Ridley Scott and serves as the second prequel to the original 1979 Alien film, expanding the shared mythology around the Engineers, the Space Jockeys, and the origins of the Xenomorphs. For box office and production details, see the official studio data on the Alien film series Forbes.
After Alien: Covenant, the next major project in the franchise is the upcoming Alien: Earth, a new television series produced by Scott Free Productions and FX Productions for Hulu. The series is set in the Alien universe and explores new storylines separate from the main film saga, with Noah Hawley serving as showrunner and executive producer. While no theatrical Alien sequel has been officially greenlit after Alien: Covenant, Ridley Scott has continued to discuss future films and expanded universe content that could further connect the prequels to the original Alien timeline.
How Prometheus Connects to the Broader Alien Timeline
Prometheus and Alien: Covenant as Connected Prequels
Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017) are linked by shared characters, themes, and the android David, played by Michael Fassbender. In Prometheus, the crew of the USCSS Prometheus travels to LV-223 to meet the Engineers, while in Alien: Covenant the crew of the USCSS Covenant encounters David on the planetoid Origae-6 after the events of the first film. The two movies form a continuous prequel arc that explores the creation of the Xenomorphs, the downfall of the Engineers, and David's role in engineering the Alien creatures that appear in the original Alien film.
How Alien: Earth Fits Into the Franchise
Alien: Earth is set in the same universe as the Alien films but focuses on a new generation of characters and a different storyline, rather than continuing the specific plot threads from Prometheus or Alien: Covenant. The series expands the Alien brand into television and is part of a broader strategy by 20th Century Studios and Hulu to grow the franchise across multiple formats. While the exact chronological placement of Alien: Earth relative to the films has not been fully detailed, it is positioned as a new entry point for audiences unfamiliar with the prequel films.
Future Alien Movies and Franchise Plans
Status of the Next Theatrical Alien Film
As of the latest public information, no theatrical Alien sequel has been officially announced after Alien: Covenant, and no release date has been confirmed by 20th Century Studios. Ridley Scott has repeatedly discussed plans for additional films to bridge the gap between the prequels and the original Alien, but these projects remain in development with no finalized scripts, budgets, or greenlight decisions publicly disclosed by the studio.
Where to Follow Official Franchise Updates
Fans can follow official Alien franchise updates through 20th Century Studios press releases, the official Alien website, and verified social media accounts from the production companies behind the films and series. Industry tracking sites and major entertainment outlets such as Variety regularly report on development status, casting decisions, and new project announcements related to the Alien universe. For current information on upcoming Alien projects and studio announcements, see the latest coverage from Variety