Even at 78 years young, Sir Ridley Scott continues to be one of the industry’s most prolific directors, often dabbling in a variety of different projects across screens big and small. Alien: Covenant is arguably the most exciting of the bunch, and to celebrate the filmmaker’s 78th birthday, an eerie new set photo has surfaced online that teases a familiar, ghastly face.
That face is, of course, the Space Jockey – or at least its cavernous chair – which can be seen drenched in a pale white glow behind Sir Ridders. First introduced through the seminal Alien in 1979, the mythology and fan fiction surrounding the Space Jockey has spawned countless theories ever since, each as weird and wonderful as the last, though it wasn’t until the release of Prometheus in 2012 that its origin was revealed.
Now known as the Engineers, that Space Jockey belonged to an alien species that brought humanity to life all those years ago, and in line with early rumors, it seems as though those towering, largely silent creatures have a big part to play in next year’s Alien: Covenant.
[zergpaid]Thankfully, we won’t have to wait too long to uncover some tangible answers, as we learned last week that Alien: Covenant had been brought forward to May 19, carving out some much-needed breathing space between it and Blade Runner 2049, another sequel to one of Scott’s classics.
2017 marks a big year for the director, then, but in recognizing his stellar contribution to the world of cinema, Ridley Scott has now been named the latest recipient of the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award, which makes for quite the birthday present. In light of the announcement, DGA President Paris Barclay published the following statement:
Masterful in any genre, Ridley’s groundbreaking methods and peerless directing instincts have brought to life some of the most memorable films of our time, capturing the resilience of the human spirit and captivating the hearts and minds of audiences around the world. Stunning visuals, immersive worlds and powerful performances underpin his diverse body of work which ranges from Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise to Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and, most recently, The Martian. Over the course of four decades, his trailblazing career has demonstrated the impact and importance of the director’s singular vision. For these reasons, and so many more, we are honored to present the Lifetime Achievement Award in feature film to Ridley Scott.
Baywatch has some company, it seems – look for Alien: Covenant to slither into theaters on May 19, 2017.