The New ‘Alien’ Trailer Gives Us Hope for a Prequel That (Finally) Doesn’t Suck

Double dog dare you to watch it alone in the dark

February 23, 2017 9:00 am

Prometheus was a mess. A beautiful mess, but still (run sideways, Charlize!)

After a “meh” trailer earlier this winter, a new five-minute prologue to the upcoming Prometheus sequel/Alien prequel Alien: Covenant offers us actual hope for the upcoming sci-fi flick.

While Covenant is directed by Ridley Scott, this new short (“Prologue: Last Supper”) was directed by his son, Luke. So don’t expect any of this footage to make to the actual film — it’s serving as more of an introduction to the cast. Good news: James Franco, as the ship’s captain, seems to be playing it understated here (spoiler alert: he may not be the captain for the whole movie, based on how he’s listed in the credits). Danny McBride obviously helps any scene he’s in (“I will colonize all over this table!”). And the short offers some mysteries (creepy smile, Michael Fassbender) along with what appears to be a sense of genuine camaraderie among the crew (a trait severely lacking in Prometheus).

Plus, there’s a quick, ominous nod to the original film’s best scene … which only one film has ever topped.

Alien: Covenant opens May 19th.

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