In 2104, the colony ship Covenant is on its way to the planet Origae-6, carrying thousands of colonists and human embryos in cryogenic sleep. A sudden cosmic event damages the vessel and forces part of the crew awake to deal with the emergency. During repairs, the crew picks up a human voice transmission coming from an uncharted, habitable world. The decision to investigate the signal splits the survivors, and the film follows those who land on an unknown surface, where they find that the place hides a threat far greater than anyone expected. Without revealing how it unfolds, the story raises questions about creation, humanity and the responsibility of those who design artificial life.

How it was made

The project was confirmed in August 2012, after Ridley Scott discussed the prospects of a sequel and a new trilogy that same year, before the release of Prometheus. John Logan and Dante Harper wrote the screenplay, based on a story by Michael Green and Jack Paglen. Michael Fassbender returns as an android, Guy Pearce reprises his role as Peter Weyland, and Katherine Waterston leads the human cast. Principal photography began on April 4, 2016, in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, and wrapped on July 19 of that year. Odd Studios and CreatureNFX handled the makeup and animatronic creatures, a craft that remains one of the film's most recognizable features. Jed Kurzel composed the music and Dariusz Wolski shot the film. Scott said the first cut ran 2 hours and 23 minutes, and that more than twenty minutes were trimmed before the final version.

Reception and legacy

The film premiered in London on May 4, 2017, and opened in the United Kingdom on May 12 and in the United States on May 19. Critics gave it generally positive reviews, but its box office fell short of expectations: it grossed around 240 million dollars worldwide against an estimated production budget of between 97 and 111 million. As the sixth entry in the series and a direct sequel to Prometheus, it is often read as a bridge between the two strands of the franchise, blending the horror of the original series with a deeper look at the origins of its creatures and creators. The available information does not mention major awards, so its impact is best measured by its place within the saga and by the debate it sparked among fans.

Stills

Trailer

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Trivia

A voice without a face

Noomi Rapace appeared in a short promotional prologue set between Prometheus and this film, but she does not appear in the final cut. Her voice can still be heard from the planet early in the movie.

Ripley's shadow

Katherine Waterston said she knew comparisons with Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley were inevitable. She tried not to dwell on them during filming so that she would not feel intimidated.

More films by Ridley Scott

Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.