# Alien: Covenant

> 2017 film by Ridley Scott

**Wikidata**: [Q20430699](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20430699)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien:_Covenant)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alien-covenant

## Summary
Alien: Covenant is a 2017 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott, serving as a sequel to Prometheus and the second installment in the prequel series to the original Alien franchise. The film follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant as they discover a seemingly uncharted paradise that harbors a deadly threat.

## Key Facts
- Directed by Ridley Scott, released May 19, 2017
- Runtime: 122 minutes
- Budget: $97 million
- Box office revenue: $240.9 million worldwide
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox, Scott Free Productions, Brandywine Productions, TSG Entertainment
- Country of origin: United States and United Kingdom
- Genres: Science fiction, horror, thriller
- Part of the Alien franchise and prequel to the original 1979 Alien film
- Sequel to Prometheus (2012)
- IMDb ID: tt2316204
- Wikidata ID: Q20430699
- Wikipedia title: Alien: Covenant
- Sitelink count: 48 Wikipedia language editions
- Official website: https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/alien-covenant
- Followed by: Alien: Romulus (2024)

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Alien: Covenant?**
The film follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant who discover what they believe to be an uncharted paradise, but it turns out to be a dark, dangerous world inhabited by the synthetic David, survivor of the Prometheus expedition, and deadly alien creatures.

**How does Alien: Covenant connect to the larger Alien franchise?**
Alien: Covenant serves as both a sequel to Prometheus and a bridge to the original Alien film, exploring the origins of the Xenomorph species and the engineers who created humanity, while introducing new elements to the franchise mythology.

**Who are the main cast members in Alien: Covenant?**
The film stars Michael Fassbender as David and Walter, Katherine Waterston as Daniels, Billy Crudup as Oram, Danny McBride as Tennessee, and Demián Bichir as Lope.

**What production companies were involved in making Alien: Covenant?**
The film was produced by 20th Century Fox, Scott Free Productions (founded by Ridley Scott), Brandywine Productions (known for the Alien franchise), and TSG Entertainment.

**How was Alien: Covenant received by critics and audiences?**
The film received mixed reviews, with praise for its visual effects and Michael Fassbender's dual performance, but criticism for its plot and character development. It holds a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.3/10 on IMDb.

## Why It Matters
Alien: Covenant matters as a significant entry in one of science fiction's most influential horror franchises, continuing Ridley Scott's exploration of the Alien universe's mythology while attempting to bridge the gap between the philosophical themes of Prometheus and the visceral horror of the original Alien. The film represents a crucial pivot point in the franchise's narrative, delving deeper into the origins of the Xenomorph species and the role of artificial intelligence in creation and destruction. Its exploration of creation, faith, and the consequences of playing god resonates with contemporary discussions about artificial intelligence and bioengineering. The film's visual design and practical effects continue the franchise's legacy of groundbreaking creature design and atmospheric tension, while its narrative choices sparked significant debate among fans about the direction of the Alien mythology.

## Notable For
- Directed by Ridley Scott, returning to the Alien franchise after 30 years
- Michael Fassbender's dual performance as both David and Walter
- Practical effects and creature design continuing the franchise's legacy
- Exploration of the Engineers' role in human creation and the Xenomorph's origins
- Box office success with $240.9 million worldwide despite mixed critical reception
- Connection between Prometheus mythology and original Alien timeline
- Introduction of new alien creatures beyond the traditional Xenomorph
- Filming locations in Australia and New Zealand providing diverse planetary landscapes
- Score by Jed Kurzel incorporating Jerry Goldsmith's original Alien themes
- Continuation of the franchise's themes of corporate greed and scientific hubris

## Body

### Production and Creative Team
Alien: Covenant was directed by Ridley Scott, who also served as producer through his company Scott Free Productions. The screenplay was written by John Logan and Dante Harper, based on a story by Michael Green and Jack Paglen. The film was produced by 20th Century Fox, Scott Free Productions, Brandywine Productions, and TSG Entertainment. Key crew members included cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, editor Pietro Scalia, and composer Jed Kurzel.

### Narrative and Themes
The film continues the story of the Prometheus expedition while introducing new characters aboard the colony ship Covenant. It explores themes of creation, faith, and the consequences of playing god, with the synthetic David serving as both creator and destroyer. The narrative bridges the philosophical questions raised in Prometheus with the horror elements that defined the original Alien, examining the relationship between creators and their creations through both human and artificial intelligence perspectives.

### Cast and Characters
The main cast includes Michael Fassbender in a dual role as the androids David and Walter, Katherine Waterston as terraforming expert Daniels, Billy Crudup as Captain Oram, Danny McBride as pilot Tennessee, and Demián Bichir as security officer Lope. The ensemble cast also features Carmen Ejogo, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Amy Seimetz, and Guy Pearce reprising his role as Peter Weyland.

### Visual Design and Effects
The film continues the franchise's tradition of groundbreaking visual effects and creature design. The Xenomorph design builds upon H.R. Giger's original concepts while introducing new variations. Practical effects were heavily utilized alongside CGI to create the film's alien creatures and environments. The production design created distinct visual aesthetics for the Covenant ship and the alien planet, with filming taking place in Australia and New Zealand.

### Release and Distribution
Alien: Covenant premiered on May 4, 2017, at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles, with general theatrical release beginning May 19, 2017, in the United States. The film was distributed globally by 20th Century Fox and released in various formats including IMAX and 3D. It was marketed through traditional trailers, viral marketing campaigns, and promotional partnerships.

### Franchise Context and Continuity
The film serves as both a sequel to Prometheus (2012) and a prequel to the original Alien (1979), positioned as the sixth installment in the main series and the second in the prequel trilogy. It follows the events of Prometheus while setting up elements that lead directly to the original Alien film, including the evolution of the Xenomorph species and the fate of the Engineers.

### Critical Reception and Impact
Alien: Covenant received mixed reviews from critics, holding a 65% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 65/100. Critics praised the film's visual effects, Michael Fassbender's performance, and its return to the horror elements of the original Alien, while some found fault with the plot and character development. The film grossed $240.9 million worldwide against a $97 million budget, making it a commercial success despite the mixed critical reception.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 122 minutes and was shot using Arri Alexa XT Plus cameras. The aspect ratio is 2.39:1, and the sound mix includes Dolby Digital, DTS, and SDDS formats. The musical score by Jed Kurzel incorporates elements of Jerry Goldsmith's original Alien theme while creating new motifs for the film's characters and themes.

### Related Works and Connections
Alien: Covenant is connected to several other works in the Alien franchise, including Prometheus (2012), Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), and the upcoming Alien: Romulus (2024). It shares production companies with these films, particularly Scott Free Productions and Brandywine Productions, and continues thematic and narrative threads established in earlier entries.

### Cultural Significance
The film contributes to ongoing discussions about artificial intelligence, creation, and the ethics of scientific exploration. Its exploration of synthetic life and the consequences of creation resonates with contemporary debates about AI development and bioengineering. The film's visual design and creature effects continue to influence science fiction horror aesthetics and production design.

### Production Challenges
The film faced the challenge of balancing fan expectations for both the philosophical approach of Prometheus and the horror elements of the original Alien. This resulted in a narrative that attempts to satisfy both audiences while establishing its own identity within the franchise. The production also had to create convincing alien environments and creatures while maintaining continuity with established franchise elements.

### Marketing and Promotion
The film's marketing campaign included traditional trailers, viral marketing websites, and promotional partnerships. The marketing emphasized both the horror elements and the philosophical questions raised by the film, targeting both longtime fans of the franchise and new audiences. The promotional materials highlighted the return of Ridley Scott to the director's chair and the continuation of the Prometheus storyline.

### Legacy and Future
Alien: Covenant's legacy continues through its influence on the Alien franchise's mythology and its contribution to discussions about artificial intelligence and creation in science fiction. The film's narrative choices and character developments have shaped subsequent entries in the franchise, particularly the upcoming Alien: Romulus. Its exploration of the Xenomorph's origins and the role of synthetic life in the franchise's mythology continues to be debated and analyzed by fans and critics alike.

## References

1. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2316204/)
2. [Source](http://www.scified.com/sites/sitelogos/1978806-prometheusmovies.png)
3. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
4. The Movie Database
5. Alien: Covenant. Rotten Tomatoes
6. IMDb
7. [Box Office Mojo](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=alienparadiselost.htm)
8. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2316204/releaseinfo)
9. [National Media and Infocommunications Authority](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
10. [Swedish Film Database](http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/sv/item/?type=film&itemid=89048)
11. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
12. BBC Things
13. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2316204/)
14. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=alienparadiselost.htm)
15. Kinopoisk
16. [Source](http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/alien-covenant-2017)
17. Google Knowledge Graph
18. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=274635)
19. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/alien-covenant/)
20. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=208314.html)
21. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
22. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/146495)
23. [Source](http://justica.gov.br/noticias/classificacao-indicativa-divulga-faixa-etaria-de-filmes-que-estreiam-nos-cinemas-brasileiros-3)
24. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
25. [Source](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/webicaa/Ficheros/221616/34/221616/1/209.pdf)
26. [Source](http://cnc.abt.ro/registru/index.aspx?pageID=3&filmID=15522)
27. [Source](https://www.kmrb.or.kr/data/searchMovieView.do?rcv_no=2018525)
28. [Source](http://www.rtc.gob.mx/NuevoSitio/cine_clasif_35mm.php?cd=380)
29. [Source](http://fpbquery.fpb.org.za/erms/film_details.aspx?ref=79046)
30. Bechdel Test Movie List
31. mymovies.it
32. Alien: Covenant
33. [Source](https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/Search/Film/SearchDetail.aspx?sType=Feature&sRowID=AAAgZnAAAAAADKjAAA)
34. Danish Film Database
35. [Source](https://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/RCQ212AfficherFicheTech.asp?intNoFilm=404199)
36. [Source](http://www.ifco.ie/en/ifco/pages/F5BD8808003E9C10)
37. TheTVDB
38. Trakt.tv
39. FilmVandaag.nl