Academy Award-winning filmmaker Bong Joon Ho has shown interest in directing a new addition to Ridley Scott’s long-running Alien franchise. Bong is familiar with the sci-fi horror genre, having previously directed the 2006 monster movie The Host, one of his highest-rated films to date.
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Bong Joon Ho was asked if he had any plans to direct big-budget films for major franchises like Star Wars or James Bond. The South Korean filmmaker admitted that franchise movies don’t really interest him. However, he revealed that if given the chance, he would like to work on an Alien film.
I’m not drawn to franchise films, but I did think at one point that I would like to do an Alien film,
Bong shared over Zoom through his interpreter, Sharon Choi.
Interestingly, he also hinted at his unique vision for the project, saying he would like it to be “an Alien musical.” Bong won multiple Oscars for his 2019 black comedy Parasite, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Last year, 20th Century Studios released Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez and starring Cailee Spaeny. The film is the latest addition to the long-running horror franchise, following 2017’s Alien: Covenant. Set between the events of 1979’s Alien and 1986’s Aliens, the story follows a group of space colonists.
The spinoff received positive reviews from both critics and audiences, earning a Certified Fresh rating of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, the studio is gearing up for the debut of FX on Hulu’s prequel series Alien: Earth, starring Sydney Chandler and Timothy Olyphant. This will be the franchise’s first major story set on Earth.
Bong Joon Ho’s next film is Warner Bros.’ sci-fi black comedy Mickey 17, starring Robert Pattinson as a disposable clone worker. According to the official synopsis,
“the unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes, has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.”
Bong Joon Ho is also working on a mystery CGI-animated film about deep-sea creatures, with Werner Herzog set to star. The untitled project has been in development since 2019 and is aiming for a 2027 release.
Additionally, the acclaimed filmmaker is planning his next horror movie, which will be set in an underground subway in Seoul, South Korea. In a recent interview with MBC Korea, Bong described the untitled film as “kind of like my [his] life project,” revealing that he has been developing it for nearly 25 years. Details about the plot and characters remain under wraps.
Meanwhile, Mickey 17 is set to hit theaters on March 25.
Source: Los Angeles Times