Cailee Spaeny in Talks for The New Alien Movie

Cailee Spaeny in Talks To Play the Lead in Fede Álvarez’ New Alien Movie

While Ridley Scott’s company is also producing Kristen Stewart’s feature directorial debut, set to star Imogen Poots.

2012's 'Prometheus.'

Following the recent few years where it felt like only Ridley Scott was allowed to make ‘Alien’ movies, Fede Álvarez finally managed to convince him that someone else deserved a shot back in March, with his own take on the concept.

Little is yet known about exactly what is, but when the news first broke, 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell commented that Scott and the studio had been convinced by the director’s pitch, which will include “a bunch of characters you haven’t seen before”.

And now it appears that one of that bunch will be played by Cailee Spaeny. The actor, who has appeared in movies such as ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’, ‘On the Basis of Sex’ and ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’, is now in talks for an unknown role in the movie.

With Álvarez having delivered his latest script draft to Scott and the studio, the momentum is building for this one, and shooting should be underway next year. While the rest of the cast is being gathered through auditions and test screenings, Spaeny has been the favorite for the lead role following meetings with Álvarez and the producers.

The new movie won’t directly follow the original series of extraterrestrial horror/action movies as kicked off by Scott’s ‘Alien’ in 1979, nor will it continue the story in the director’s ‘Prometheus’-led prequel films (Scott keeps saying he’ll make another of those himself). Instead, it’ll be set in the same universe following a new set of characters dealing with facehugger/xenomorph terror.

Kristen Stewart arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo: Michael Baker / A.M.P.A.S.

In related Scott Free news, there are fresh details on a movie that we are relatively confident won’t feature slavering creatures with acid for blood or chests bursting open in a spray of bodily fluids.

Kristen Stewart, who cut her directorial teeth on a short film for the company, has now locked in a deal to make her feature directing debut with ‘The Chronology of Water’, which has Imogen Poots set to star.

Stewart has also worked with Andy Mingo on the script, which adapts Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir.

The tome is described as a lyrical journey through a life saved by art. A young woman finds her voice through the written word and her salvation as a swimmer – ultimately becoming a triumphant teacher, mother and a singular modern writer.

“Lidia’s memoir honors corporeal experience, radically,” says Stewart in a statement carried by Deadline. “To make that experience physical feels vital to me and what this impulse means … is that it absolutely must be a film. This project has been cooking for five years with the help of Scott Free, whom I could not be more privileged to have as partners and friends. Imogen Poots will carry this movie and the staggering weight of Lidia’s life. She can hold it. I am beyond lucky to have her.”