Movies
Next ‘Alien’ Likely with ‘Alien: Covenant’ Celebrating Box Office Success
The one thing about being a horror fan is that we would do just about anything to see our favorite franchises continue forth. This means that, no matter how bad a sequel is, it’s in our DNA to still champion a new film. Being a rabid Alien fan I would do just about anything to see more prequel/sequels, especially now that original director Ridley Scott has embedded himself as the face of the new entries. Well, yay to me, as Scott’s teased Alien: Awakening is more likely than ever.
Twentieth Century Fox is celebrating the early box office success of Alien: Covenant, which opened in theaters late Thursday night. Early reports have the Prometheus sequel opening at an estimated $40 million. While this is a far cry from the huge $70+ million opening of other recent franchises, it’s a modest amount that all but guarantees a lifetime domestic gross of $100 million. What’s important to note is that Covenant‘s budget was just under $100 million, which is a whopping $30 million less than Prometheus. If we were to use that film as a comp, it took in $400 million worldwide on a slew of negative reviews and rejection from fans. With Covenant‘s budget at $100 million, including marketing a $400 million worldwide gross would pit the film to just barely cross into profit territory. With the film already opening strong overseas ($46 million last weekend), and a release slated in the lucrative China as well, Fox should be happily moving forward on the next installment.
Scott has openly boasted his ability to come in under budget and on schedule, which makes the studio confident in taking huge financial risks on the 79-year-old filmmaker. Scott has a minimum of two sequels planned (although he’s teased “up to six” more), with plans to shoot the tentatively titled Alien: Awakening in early 2018 for release in 2019.
Are you guys all-in on more Alien films?!
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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