The Predator prequel, Prey, continues to put pressure on the upcoming 2024 Alien movie (and it’s franchise) as its reception grow bigger daily. All eyes are on filmmaker Fede Álvarez, known for directing acclaimed horror/thriller titles such as 2013’s Evil Dead and 2016’s Don’t Breathe, for he is set with the undertaking of impressing audiences and critics with the newest Alien addition nearly six years after the franchise last released a film effort. The expectation for Álvarez to succeed with his Alien attempt is almost impossibly high as a consequence of the past disappointments of the Alien franchise and the unanticipated achievements of the Predator franchise in its straight-to-streaming phenomenon, Prey.
Inevitably, the Alien and Predator franchises have been pitted against each other in a callback to the notorious Alien vs. Predator saga, and Predator is so far winning the war of the franchises. The Predator collective released 2022’s Prey four years after its last installment, and the prequel thriller not only served as a successful revitalization of the franchise but was commended by audiences and critics for its fresh yet familiar homage to the original Predator films. Since its premiere, Prey has overcome the odds of being sent to streaming and has been collecting admirable accolades, putting pressure on Álvarez’s new Alien movie to come out the gate swinging hard.
Prey’s 6 Emmy Nominations Increase The Pressure For Disney’s Alien Movie To Be Critically Acclaimed
Past reports doubted if Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey could garner enough acclaim because it was released to streaming on Hulu and did not get the chance for theatrical consideration. However, despite what some still believe a grave disservice to the Predator franchise, Prey strived on Hulu and became the platform’s most popular premiere of all time. If considerations for the Predator franchise’s Prey 2 wasn’t proof enough of Prey’s unending success, then its recent nomination for six Emmys, including Outstanding Television Movie, is certainly confirmation of the lucrative direction the franchise is heading in.
Prey earned additional nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie; Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie; Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie; Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score); and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie, or Special. In terms of what Prey brings to the Alien vs. Predator battle, the Predator franchise is freshly stacked. The new Alien has to contend with an overall flawless Predator installment, while aiming to be an as, if not more, critically acclaimed movie and worthy film competitor.
The New Alien Movie Desperately Needs Both Critical & Box Office Success To Revive The Franchise
Pressure of the Alien vs. Predator saga is a considerable challenge for it to succeed, but the new Alien movie needs to be principally concerned with whether it can keep its franchise afloat. The last few Alien movies, Ripley Scott’s prequel films Prometheus and Alien: Covenant – and even the last film of the original series, Alien Resurrection (1997) – veered away from the frightful charm and economic success essential to Alien’s core. Since then, the Alien franchise has been in need of an impressive feat to entertain its devoted fan base and right the course of its 44-year-old franchise to continue its cultural legacy.
Prey is a great example of what the Alien franchise needs considering its critical and profitable achievement that is assumed to propel the Predator franchise forward. Disney has learned the pitfalls of sending Prey to streaming and has to eat what could have been stunning Predator theatrical release. Alvarez’s new Alien movie will have the chance to be marketed for and viewed at theaters, and while that may be great news for the Alien franchise, it is yet another pressure-filled obstacle precedented by Prey’s outstanding achievement as a television movie.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
