‘Alien: Covenant’ Teases A Terrifying New Xenomorph And An Early Release

Christmas is coming early with some new Alien: Covenant gifts. Twentieth Century Fox just released a new teaser poster for the film’s upcoming release, and speaking of that theatrical debut, it seems Alien: Covenant is to see an earlier-than-planned release. The film, determined to be a sequel/prequel for the Prometheus and the Alien sagas, has seen its share of delays and inspired a fair amount of confusion as to its placement in the franchise(s)’ timeline, so the earlier release date definitely comes as a surprise. Following news of the teaser poster and the release details, a deeper look at what we know about Alien: Covenant seems in order.

Alien: Covenant Offers A Look At The New Xenomorph And Some Sage Advice

May 2017 pic.twitter.com/kseBXC8Ecv

— 20th Century Studios (@20thcentury) November 23, 2016

Twentieth Century Fox dropped the first teaser poster for Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant and, as Entertainment Weekly points out, the poster presents a terrifying glimpse of the film’s new take on the classic Alien villain. The new Xenomorph’s head can be seen, as though searching for its prey (you) in the darkness, and one might imagine there’s a slight grimace crossing that vicious maw, as though it has found just what it was seeking.

Above the head of this new menace is a bit of sound advice in the form of one word in capital letters.

“RUN”

The poster also reveals that Alien: Covenant will get an earlier-than-planned theatrical debut. Initially, the Alien/Prometheus sequel was scheduled for an August 4, 2017, release, but the teaser poster reveals that the film will hit theaters three months earlier on May 19.

Related articles on the Inquisitr:

‘Alien: Covenant’ Star Michael Fassbender Leaks Details About New Neomorphs

‘Alien: Covenant’ Teases A Horrific Slaughter

‘Alien: Covenant’ Images And Spoilers Reveal Ridley Scott’s Connection To ‘Prometheus’

Alien: Covenant – What We Know So Far

When everything is put together, as Movie Pilot has attempted to do, there’s a surprisingly great deal of information about the upcoming Alien: Covenant film, the least of which is the fact that Ridley Scott is again getting his hands dirty. Of course, Alien fans know that Scott was behind the highly successful first film, but he had stepped back for the subsequent sequels. Ridley didn’t return to the Aliens franchise again as a director until the prequel film, 2012’s Prometheus. Talk of uniting a Prometheus franchise with the Alien films excited Scott and his passion for the project has been renewed for Alien: Covenant.

The plot of Alien: Covenant has been fleshed out enough in recent months, so we now know that it focuses on the crew of the Covenant, as they discover a previously uncharted planet and begin exploring its surface. The newly discovered planet seems to present a perfect opportunity for colonization, until the Covenant crew discovers a dark secret.

The only source of information is the android, David (Michael Fassbender), who is the only survivor of the Prometheus mission. Gradually, the exploration of this paradise turns into a horrific thrill ride, as the Covenant crew find themselves pitted against the evil villains of 1979’s Alien and worse.

“It’s kind of got more of thriller, imminent disaster feel that Alien had, so it’s kind of a beautiful meeting of both of those films,” said Michael Fassbender of Alien: Covenant. “I’m really excited to see it, I think it’s gonna be super scary number one and then again with the massive scope of Prometheus… Once it starts and the ball starts rolling, it doesn’t let up. It’s really gonna bring chills to the cinema.”

Fans can expect to see those classic xenomorphs from the first Alien films, but set leaks have revealed that there’s a new kind of crossbreed, making up an even more frightening creature, which is to be unique to Alien: Covenant. In the tradition of nicknaming Alien xenomorphs, some have already dubbed the new creatures “backbursters,” after the way they destroy the host/victim.

New creatures, even those based on the works of H.R. Geiger, aside, the success of Alien: Covenant will depend on its storytelling and characterization, as has been proven with past failures in the Alien sequels. It remains to be seen if this new world and its dark secrets can keep audiences spellbound throughout Alien: Covenant.

[Featured Image by Twentieth Century Fox]