( CNN ) It 's hard to believe it 's been 36 years since the first `` Alien '' extraterrestrial beastie burst out of John Hurt 's chest and into moviegoers ' nightmares . But fans of the sci-fi/horror franchise , which sputtered out with 1997 's `` Alien : Resurrection , '' are still eager to see what filmmaker Neill Blomkamp can do with the material . Blomkamp , who made the respected sci-fi action thriller `` District 9 '' and has a new movie , `` Chappie , '' coming out March 6 , posted an Instagram message last week implying his next film will be a new `` Alien '' project . According to the Hollywood Reporter , a CNN content partner , Blomkamp will ignore the last two sequels in the series -- `` Alien 3 '' and `` Alien : Resurrection '' -- and pick up the storyline after the events of the James Cameron-directed `` Aliens . '' Beyond that , details about Blomkamp 's `` Alien '' are still scarce . There 's no word about when the film might hit theaters or whether it would bring back characters from the earlier movies -- although star Sigourney Weaver is likely to return . A Blomkamp reboot of `` Alien '' seems promising ( although we have n't seen `` Chappie '' yet ) . Then again , Hollywood is more than capable of screwing it up . Here are five ways they could blow it . Do n't cast Sigourney Weaver . Sure , someone could make a great `` Alien '' movie without her . But why would you ? She 's a fine actress , she wants to do it and she would lend instant credibility to the project . Luckily , Blomkamp appears to agree . Chatter about a Blomkamp `` Alien '' movie began almost two months ago when the South African filmmaker started posting `` Alien '' -themed concept art to Instagram -- including images of Weaver as her Ripley character . Weaver also has a role in `` Chappie '' and has gushed about Blomkamp 's talent , fueling speculation that the two will work together again . Keep the aliens exactly the same . With their skeletal bodies , armored heads , dual sets of jaws and fangs dripping with venom , the `` Alien '' xenomorphs are among the most iconic -- and freaky -- creatures in science fiction . They 're also almost four decades old , originally created by H.R . Giger . We 're not saying Blomkamp should replace them with something totally different . But every species evolves . Make them more cunning and even scarier looking . It 's time for a refresh . Thankfully , Blomkamp seems to have done just that with his early concept art . Have them attack Earth . Invading space aliens have been a science-fiction staple since at least 1951 's `` The Day the Earth Stood Still . '' But having a marauding alien terrorize Times Square or scamper down Sunset Boulevard would look pretty silly . The `` Alien '' movies have generated suspense largely through the claustrophobic feel of humans trapped in enclosed spaces with deadly critters who might pop out at any moment . So instead of Earth , what about this : What if an alien stowaway or two infiltrate an exclusive space colony -- like Blomkamp 's own Elysium ? It might be satisfying to see the toothy monsters wreak havoc on a bunch of pampered elitists . Bow to 'Prometheus ' Ridley Scott 's 2012 film `` Prometheus '' was a prequel of sorts to the first `` Alien . '' And a rumored `` Prometheus '' sequel , if it ever happens , is expected to veer even further from the `` Alien '' mythology . Nothing against that film or against Scott , the creative force behind the `` Alien '' franchise . But Blomkamp should feel free to pursue his own vision . `` Alien : The Musical ! '' Haha ! Just kidding . We hope .
`` District 9 '' director Neill Blomkamp will make a new movie in the `` Alien '' series . The film is set to be released on July 20th, 2014 and stars Michael Fassbender as David 8 ( who was played by Sigourney Weaver ), Noomi Rapace as Ellen Ripley ( played by His concepts look promising , but here 's how Hollywood could still screw it up .