Official: Neill Blomkamp Will Direct New Alien Film for 20th Century Fox

It started with District 9 writer/director Neill Blomkamp killing some time during post-production on Chappie, but his concept art originally made for fun will now become a reality, as 20th Century Fox has signed Neill Blomkamp to direct a new Alien movie.

Variety confirms what Blomkamp recently posted to Instagram: that a new Alien film will be the writer/director's next movie. Blomkamp worked with Sigourney Weaver, who played protagonist Ellen Ripley in four Alien films, in his upcoming movie, Chappie, and he incorporated the actress in his concept art, along with Michael Biehn, who memorably portrayed Cpl. Dwayne Hicks in James Cameron's Aliens, a character who was unceremoniously killed off at the beginning of Alien 3. Weaver last played Ellen Ripley (albeit a clone of Ripley) in 1997's Alien Resurrection.

Could both Weaver and Biehn come back for this new Alien movie? That still remains to be seen, but Blomkamp, who earlier stated he already has nearly an entire new Alien movie developed, looks to bring back both characters, as they are both featured in his previously released concept art. Weaver herself expressed potential interest in Blomkamp's Alien film in a recent interview with ComingSoon.net.

*Updated* According to THR, Blomkamp's Alien movie will take place after the events of Ridley Scott's in-development Prometheus sequel, with Blomkamp set to work on the script (though he'd already fleshed out most of a new Alien story prior to getting hired). Scott's Scott Free Productions is backing Blomkamp's Alien film. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for further updates. In the meantime, we have a look at some of the concept art that helped Blomkamp get the Alien gig.

Images via Instagram: