Coming 33 years after the first Alien, and with Ridley Scott back at the helm - after relinquishing control of the last two films in the franchise. This prequel to Alien begins, as Kubrick's 2001 did, with a trail of clues on Earth that takes a group of explorers into space. On 21 December 2093, the expedition financed by the elderly, eccentric, head of the giant Weyland Corporation approaches an unknown planet that promises much but will eventually seal their fate. A bold and excellent addition to the Alien franchise, which will, no doubt, have its detractors , but then expectations for any Filmmaker returning to a genre they helped to define will always be greeted by astronomic anticipation.