Neill Blomkamp pretty much confirmed that this project is now dead in a recent interview, saying: "I think it’s totally dead, yes. That would be an accurate assumption at this point. It’s sad. I spent a long time working on that, and I feel like it was really pretty awesome. But politically, the way it’s gone now, and the way that it all is, it’s just not going to live." Adding... "Ridley [Scott] was one of my idols growing up. He’s so talented and he’s made this film that really set me off in a direction. I want to just be as respectful and not go stamping around in this world that he created. I think that if the circumstances were different, and I didn’t feel like I was getting too close to something that he obviously feels a massive personal connection to, that things that may have played out differently. But I did want to be as respectful as possible." (6/5/17)

Producer Ridley Scott had a recent interview where he revealed that this project may not have gotten as far as we were led to believe, saying: "I think it will never see the light. There was never a scenario, just an idea that evolved into a pitch of ten pages, I had to participate as a producer but it did not go any further because the Fox decided that they did not want to do it. I had already done Prometheus and worked on Covenant." (5/1/17)

Actor Michael Biehn (Corporal Hicks from Aliens) had a recent interview, where he revealed some possibly story details, saying: "They’re planning on bringing me and Newt back and at this point Newt will be around twenty-seven years old. I know that every actress in Hollywood is going to want to play this one, it’s really a passing of the torch between Sigourney and this younger actress who would play Newt. It would keep the franchise alive and the studios would make money, because that’s what the bottom line is now: money." (11/23/15)

It looks like the project is put on hold for the time being while FOX focuses on the upcoming Prometheus sequel, titled Alien: Covenant. Neill Blomkamp had this to say via Twitter: "alien is kinda holding/ pending prometheus 2. So I shall be working on other things... as much as I love the xeno- and Lt ripley" (10/30/15)

Neill Blomkamp clarified in another interview that they won't necesarilly be ignoring the last two Alien films, but his film will happen to take place after the first two, saying: "My favorites are the first two movies, so I want to make a film that’s connected to ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’. That’s my goal. I’m not trying to undo ‘Alien 3′ or ‘Alien: Resurrection’, I just want it to be connected to ‘Alien’ 1 and 2." (2/28/15)

According to a recent interview Neill Blomkamp revealed the following: "I want this film to feel like it is literally the genetic sibling of Aliens, so it’s Alien, Aliens and then this film." It's possible that they'll be ignoring the last two films. Sigourney Weaver added the following: "I would love to take Ripley out of orbiting around in space and give a proper finish to such an excellent story. So when someone like Neill Blomkamp said, ‘I’m interested in finishing this story, my little ears perked up." (2/26/15)

Sigourney Weaver returns as "Ripley."

Neill Blomkamp reportedly got the job directing after some concept art of his was created and used to pitch new ideas to the studio. Working on this project is said to be a dream job of his, as he's been wanting to work on his version of an Alien film for many years. You can view the concept art here or by visiting the gallery page via the thumbnails below.

The studio hopes that by attaching Neill Blomkamp to the project that he can "take the franchise to the next level."

Fans may recognize director Neill Blomkamp from his past sci-fi features, District 9, Elysium and Chappie.

Ridley Scott will produce, but will not be writing or directing, as he's still busy working on the Prometheus sequel.

This film is currently untitled as Alien 5 is simply the placeholder title at the moment.

This is the fifth film in the Alien franchise, not including the Alien vs Predator films or the loosely based Prometheus.