Deadline has revealed that actress Isabela Merced has been added to the newest film in Ridley Scott‘s Alien franchise for 20th Century. As is per usual, the film’s plot and placement on the Alien timeline is still a mystery. Fede Alverez, known for his work on 2016’s thriller Don’t Breath and 2013’s Evil Dead remake, will direct the picture with Scott Free Productions on board to produce.
Reports claim Scott Free and 20th Century Studios have made this project a top priority after being impressed by a pitch from Alverez. They also hint that the Xenomorphs, the ferocious species of extraterrestrials introduced in the original 1979 film, will be featured. While no exact date is given, the film is rumored to begin production sometime this year.
Merced rose to fame in 2018, starring alongside Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne in Instant Family. She achieved leading status over the past few years, most recently starring as Juliet in the 20th Century’s revisionist Romeo & Juliet tale, Rosaline. Merced has also had roles in Sweet Girl, Spirit Untamed, and Warner Bros.’ Father of the Bride remake, before landing the leading role of Aza Holmes in the upcoming film adaptation of John Green‘s New York Times best-selling novel Turtles All the Way Down for HBOMax.
The young performer has also booked a part in one of Sony’s upcoming Marvel pics, Madame Web. It is unknown who Merced might be playing in the next Alien film, but Deadline states she will co-star alongside the previously announced Cailee Spaeny. So, we don’t know yet if we’ll meet a new member of the Ripley family or a story that moves further away from the originals.
Source: Deadline
