what a good Predator movie looks like, and while Alien 5 should no simply try to copy it, there are many creative decisions in Prey that should serve as the blueprint for the next Alien movie and also for the FX TV show.
The Alien and Predator franchises have always been linked, and not just because of the sequels often failed on replicating.
Following Disney’s acquisition of Fox, the future of the Alien and Predator franchises was up in the air. Before the acquisition, director Ridley Scott had plans for a third Alien prequel that would continue the story Alien 5 are completely different, but the latter could and should take notes from the former regarding how to recapture what made the original installment so good while also bringing a fresh take to the franchise – even if means doing a smaller, cheaper Alien movie.
Prey Is A Perfect Predator Prequel (But Also A Reboot)
Perhaps the most impressive Prey feat is how it is a Predator prequel and a Predator reboot at the same time. Prey takes place hundreds of years before Predator (1987), and while it doesn’t contradict or retcon anything from the original movie, it can perfectly serve as someone’s entry in the Predator franchise. Prey is not a copy of the original Predator, but it does repeat the tricks that made the original movie so good. The story is very straightforward, Jaws-like figure who is on screen for the right amount of time, and the focus of the movie is purely on its main character, Naru, trying to survive. Despite being a prequel released 34 years after the original movie, Prey is the best spiritual successor to Predator.
Prey Is What Prometheus & Alien: Covenant Couldn’t Be
The Alien franchise also tried to have a fresh start with a prequel, but the result was far more divisive than what Prey has accomplished. Prometheus saw Ridley Scott return to direct an Alien movie decades after the first movie, but the filmmaker was not interesting in simply redoing his original work. Ridley Scott Alien prequels.
Can Alien 5 Or FX's Aliens Show Repeat Prey's Success?
While not much has been revealed about Alien 5, the project does share some similarities with what Prey has done. First, Alien 5 will be released on Hulu, just like Prey, suggesting a smaller budget that might be positive for the Alien franchise after Prometheus and Covenant. In fact, according to 20th Century Studios' Steve Asbell (via THR), Alien 5’s smaller budget will allow the film to be “closer to its genre roots” – a promising description that fits exactly what Prey has done.
A small-budget, straight-to-streaming movie might not sound exciting at first, but it might be just what the Alien franchise needs to recapture its magic after such an inconsistent run on the big screen. Prey is a hit for Hulu, and so can be Alien 5 if nails that balance between old and new ideas. That said, the Alien franchise should not give up on innovating just because Prometheus and Covenant were divisive, which is something the FX Alien show can help with as the TV format allows for more risks to be taken. Many feared for the future of the Predator and Alien franchises after Fox’s acquisition by Disney, but, going by what Prey delivered, the future seems bright for both IPs.
