Ridley Scott Doesn’t See Why ‘Alien’ Can’t Be as Big as ‘Star Wars’ or ‘Star Trek’

It seems timing has something to do with it. At the time, Star Trek and Star Wars generally had an optimistic view of the future- the masses liked that. Alien had a dark view of the future that, while it certainly has a devoted fan base, just didn't/ doesn't have the mass appeal. It will never be ST or SW and should not try to be.

Given the excess of post-apocalyptic, dystonian and/or Zombie films/shows we see thriving atm, there is no reason that the Alien franchise cant thrive now in todays market.

The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones (2 of the most popular series today) have incredibly dark themes that focus on survival and built upon the all-hope-is-lost mentality not too dissimilar from the Alien Franchise.

It is also a pretty crowded market these days. It needs to offer something different and while I will watch them, the xeno will not be enough. It is the best monster but isn't scary anymore.

IRaptus

Both The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones had already established source material which could made into series (Alien also has but Scott might be too proud to use them).

If I understand what you mean, I have been saying for some time that the Alien franchise could have a few different Netflix type series- one exploring AI, one exploring the Xeno and another exploring the Engineers. Basically a crebral one, an action one and one that could be a mix. Yeah, RS might see Netflix as a sort of demotion from the theatrical movies. The fans would be the big winners.

Well these comments make me a little bit more hopeful. At least he is talking about the evolution of the beast and not the evolution of the AI. I am guessing he must be aware of the Star Trek Tarantino project, that will be an extra incentive for him since he is very competitive. At this point everything depends on the writers pitching the right idea to him. If he gets a script for a space monster movie that somehow manages to shake things up, offering something new while staying within the classic alien canon, he will for go for it. He just needs to get rid of John Logan. I think he is getting a clue already...

Going the Netflix route is more of a long term way of thinking, It could really open up the franchise and go different directions instead of waiting for years to see a movie that ultimately disappoints according to the numbers. Times have changed.

I think this shows that we really have to Question the Direction RS is taking or those behind the Scenes as this Interview seems to be YET AGAIN another Change of Plan/Back Tracking.. do they ever know what they are doing? Is there a Plan? Because at times it appears to be a Make-it up as you go along.

HOWEVER...

I will just answer the Star Wars/Star Trek references...

Is/Can the Xenomorph be as big as those Franchises...? The Answer is NO... yes you can evolve the Beast, otherwise we could just get them being a cross between Jason in Space, or Star Ship Troopers.

But even when we look at the Xenomorph in AC, in Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien R, then even throw some variations like the Deacon and Neomorphs... while you can extend the Beast by having it appear different, even this would get Stale down the line.. i can see only a 3-4 movies with different kinds of Xenomorph before it likely gets Boring...

PROMETHEUS however opened up the Door to a Potential  Star Wars/Star Trek by virtue of indicating the Engineers are Genetic Space Gardeners and leaving us to ponder are WE the only Humanoid Race they Created and who created the Engineers... there is a Potential to Introduce many different kinds of Alien Organisms, and not all have to be Xeno related... but their is a greater Potential for Exploring the Engineers History and History of Creation within our Galaxy and Beyond..

Are we ALONE? apart from Engineers and Xenomorphs... and the Scope Prometheus set up was that its very POSSIBLE the Variety of Worlds and Life in the Galaxy is HUGE  The Engineers Plot, opens the Door to explore a Universe more in Tone with Star Wars and Star Trek and if done in a more Darker way, it could be a interesting Expanded Universe.

BigDave ST and SW always had something else going for them that the Alien prequels lack- a generally consistent  cast of characters- except for David and a big maybe on Walter. 

I can see entirely why people organise their thoughts around the optimistic/dark argument. Much of the tension in the first set of movies was based not just around the creature but W-Y acquisitive morally bankrupt attitude toward it with the third spoke Ripley.

However i am convinced that whereas the words Star Trek or Star Wars conjure up sub created universes and visions into which a rich seam of possibilities can be introduced, more so with Trek, A L I E N means a monster and Big Dave has very eloquently explained its limitations. Predator, as someone not interested, means a certain kind of monster, Jurassic means certain kind of monsters and both have fan bases big enough to generate multiple movies but for the general public its oh thats about dinosaurs or thats about a weird looking thing which impregnates. The idea you can bring the huge bigger audience in based on such a narrowly defined artistic tic just isn't right. You only have to look at AVPGalaxy which takes an even more narrow but more thorough interest in the monster centric element to see the deeper the fan base gets in and the closer you move to the centre the fan base displays the kind of pre occupations the general audience just isn't pre occupied by or relates to.       

BigDave

Sorry no matter how they spin it, they f***ed-it up here. How did they think a story would work with a "great" (I disagree with, still think he is a nazi space robot) villain and no hero? RS said that Tennessee and Daniels have to return. So the Jester with the hat and Ripley-clone are fine... 

and off-topic, having recently read Do androids dream of electric sheep? I think that David from Prometheus is a way more faithful adaptation of a replicant from the Dick book than any from the 2 Blade Runner movies (good job there Lindelof).