With the recent release of films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, this year is quickly shaping up to be the year of sequels and prequels. The Alien franchise from director Ridley Scott is no exception to the rule, continuing the trend with the release of Alien: Covenant this past weekend. This past weekend, Box Office Mojo reports that Alien: Covenant racked up a total of $36 million since it’s debut, narrowly edging out Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. So far, the latest addition to the Alien franchise has earned a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been generally well-received by critics. Let’s take a closer look at Alien: Covenant, and explore a little bit more of the history surrounding the Aliens series.

The original Alien film first hit theaters in 1979, and now, almost four decades later, Scott aims to create yet another thrilling addition to the franchise. In 1979, Scott set the tone for his sci-fi horror series with the critically acclaimed Alien, and nearly ten years later, director James Cameron delivered a sequel with Aliens in 1986. In 1992, Alien 3 was released, along with Alien: Resurrection in 1997. In 2012, Scott returned with Prometheus, a film which explores the prequel territory leading up to the original Alien timeframe.

The film stars Michael Fassbender, who shines in every scene as the android characters, David and Walter. Actress Katherine Waterson serves up a gritty portrayal of the recently widowed Daniels, who mourns the loss of her husband at the beginning of the film. Billy Crudup appears as Oram, the crew's cautious new captain, alongside his wife Karine, played by Carmen Ejogo. Katherine Waterston and Carmen Ejogo were recently seen on screen together last fall, where they both starred in J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Katherine Waterston starred Tina, the film’s leading lady, while Carmen Ejogo appeared as Seraphina Picquery, the leader of the Magical Congress in the United States. Actor Jussie Smollett also stars as Ricks, with his wife, Upworth, played by Callie Hernandez. For a little bit of trivia, you might remember Smollett from his role as the young Terry Hall in the nineties feel-good classic, The Mighty Ducks. Danny McBride stars as Tennessee, the ship's singular space cowboy, along with his wife Faris, played by actress Amy Seimetz.

Diehard fans of the Alien series might have mixed feelings about Scott’s latest foray into the cosmos, but Alien: Covenant certainly acts as a satisfying addition to the franchise. The original tropes found in the first film are back in action, but with sleek graphics and updated special effects, it’s thrilling to watch. The story follows the crew of the Covenant, on course to set up a colony on the planet called Origae-6. When the crew is unexpectedly woken up from cryosleep several years earlier than anticipated, they receive a mysterious transmission including a voice that sounds unmistakably human. Of course, some of the crew, like Katherine Waterston's Daniels, isn't so quick to buy the gimmick, but they end up heading to the planet anyway to check it out. Naturally, the rest of the journey involves grotesque transformations, philosophical discussions, and some aliens in need of a hug. 

Despite relying on familiar tropes, Alien: Covenant serves as a solid introduction to those unfamiliar with the franchise. While Katherine Waterston certainly packs a punch with her role, Michael Fassbender clearly stands alone with his riveting performances as both Walter and David. If you haven’t seen the film yet, we won’t venture into spoiler territory, so no worries. Be sure to save yourself the extra hassle of waiting—there’s no post credit scene. Stay tuned for more about the Alien franchise, nerd news, and geek-related updates here at Nerd Kung Fu!

Written by Jade Nicolette

Twitter: @nicolette_style