Alien: Romulus turned into one of 2024's biggest surprises, pairing old-school scares with a fresh face in Cailee Spaeny and pulling in awards attention along the way. A sequel felt like a natural next step, especially with Fede Álvarez still circling the franchise and David Jonsson ready to return. Months of quiet planning followed, but the road toward a second chapter has grown far bumpier than anyone expected, and the picture now looks nothing like anyone imagined.

While early buzz suggested smooth sailing ahead, the search for a new director quietly turned into the biggest obstacle standing between Alien: Romulus and its next chapter.

Alien: Romulus' planned sequel has reportedly been shelved indefinitely, with reports suggesting it may never move forward. World of Reel's Jordan Ruimy reported that Fede Álvarez exited pre-production last year, and 20th Century's subsequent attempt to hire Evil Dead Burn director Sebastien Vanicek also fell apart. Ridley Scott, serving as producer and creative consultant, reportedly played a heavy role in both departures, leaving the project without a director and without a clear path forward.

Much of the tension reportedly traced back to Michael Fassbender's David. Álvarez had a finished script, and Fassbender nearly signed on, but Scott refused to let the character he created appear in another director's film, according to World of Reel. That decision reportedly sent the project into disarray. Meanwhile, David Jonsson has been cast as the next Black Panther, Cailee Spaeny is reportedly circling Rogue in X-Men, and Brian Duffield is writing a separate, distinct Alien film for 20th Century.

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As the sequel's future dims, one question keeps resurfacing among viewers eager to revisit the original hit before any new chapter arrives.

Alien: Romulus is not available on Netflix, despite persistent speculation among viewers hoping to find it there. The film, directed by Fede Álvarez and earning a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 2025 Academy Awards, is instead available to watch on Amazon Prime. Written by Rodo Sayagues, the story follows Rain Carradine, a young miner played by Cailee Spaeny, as she and fellow colonists raid an abandoned station only to discover a horror far worse than expected.

Earlier this year, Álvarez confirmed he would step back from directing the sequel while remaining involved as producer alongside Ridley Scott, describing the move as passing the torch rather than walking away. That plan, however, has clearly shifted since. With Amazon Prime currently the only home for Alien: Romulus, and its once-promising sequel now reportedly on indefinite hold, the franchise's next move remains firmly out of sight.

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What are your thoughts on the Alien: Romulus sequel being shelved? Let us know in the comments.