'Avatar' Franchise Director James Cameron Thinks 'Alien' Movies Might Have Run Out Of Steam

Sometimes, it pays to have a bit of perspective. James Cameron, who, if all goes according to plan, will be directing a total of five “Avatar” movies, and is planning some kind of reboot-quel with his “The Terminator” franchise, should hardly be speaking about properties that have expired long past their shelf date. And yet, here he is opining to Vulture that “Alien” may have run out of gas:

The franchise has kind of wandered all over the map. Ridley [Scott] did the first film, and he inspired an entire generation of filmmakers and science-fiction fans with that one movie and there have been so many films that stylistically have derived from it, including my own ‘Aliens,’ which was the legitimate sequel and, I think, the proper heir to his film. I sort of did it as a fanboy. I wanted to honor his film, but also say what I needed to say. After that, I don’t take any responsibility.

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I don’t think it’s worked out terribly well. I think we’ve moved on beyond it. It’s like, okay, we’ve got it, we’ve got the whole Freudian biomechanoid meme. I’ve seen it in 100 horror films since. I think both of those films stand at a certain point in time, as a reference point. But is there any validity to doing another one now? I don’t know. Maybe. Let’s see, jury’s out. Let’s see what Ridley comes up with [in ‘Alien: Covenant’]. Let me just add to that — and don’t cut this part off, please — I will stand in line for any Ridley Scott movie, even a not-so-great one, because he is such an artist, he’s such a filmmaker. I always learn from him. And what he does with going back to his own franchise would be fascinating.

In fairness to Cameron, there really hasn’t been a great movie in the franchise since his “Aliens.” All that said, even as someone who could take the franchise or leave it, I think there are lots of opportunities and ideas left to explore in the series. Frankly, now’s a good time to notify Fox that we really want that Neill Blomkamp “Alien” movie.

Thoughts? Is Cameron telling it like it is? Or should he give “Alien: Covenant” a shot (though maybe after “Prometheus,” his hesitance is perhaps understandable)? Let us know below.