During a recent Alien: Romulus screening with Collider, director Fede Alvarez discussed the possibility of revisiting the franchise, specifically the potential of directing an Alien vs. Predator crossover film. Alvarez revealed that he has indeed given this project some thought, but is also aware that his ideal version of such a movie would be nearly impossible to bring to life.

“The way I would approach it, if it were possible… In today’s online era, it’s challenging to keep secrets. The best AVP film would be one where the audience is unaware of the crossover until the other character appears,” Alvarez told Collider. “You think you’re watching a Predator movie, and then they land in a location and encounter creatures, and suddenly, it’s a Xenomorph. That would be shocking. Or vice versa, you’re watching an Alien movie, and then a mysterious creature appears, and you hear that distinctive sound and see the cloak, and you wonder, ‘Is that a Predator?’ And then it’s revealed to be one. That’s how I would do it, don’t you think? Once you put it in the title, it’s like a spoiler alert.”

Can Alvarez really pull off a surprise like this in today’s internet age? It’s unlikely, especially considering the iconic elements of both franchises, such as the Alien Queen and Predator weapons. Any production would likely have set pieces that would be obvious giveaways. Alvarez had initially considered doing something similar in Alien: Romulus, where the audience wouldn’t know it was an Alien film until the characters stumbled upon a significant clue, such as an egg.

Although this plan didn’t come to fruition, Alvarez did manage to keep one major element of Romulus under wraps until the last minute. “Rook, the Ian Holm-inspired character, was a secret until the very end,” he said. “I begged everyone who attended the early screenings not to reveal that Ian Holm was in the film, so that it would remain a surprise for the rest of the audience.”

Regarding the possibility of a new Alien vs. Predator movie, Alvarez expressed interest in collaborating with Prey director Dan Trachtenberg, who is currently working on Predator: Badlands, scheduled for release this fall. “I can’t speak for Dan, but if we both feel that a new AVP film is something we can’t wait to see, I think that’s a movie we could make,” Alvarez said.

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