Even in space you could probably have heard our excited scream over this one.

A couple of months after he posted some stunning looking concept art, Fox have officially hired DISTRICT 9’s Neill Blomkamp to write and direct the fifth ALIEN movie.

The South African director posted the news on his Instagram page with the words “So I think this is officially my next film” alongside a picture of an ALIEN. Variety has subsequently confirmed the news with Fox.

The director has been linked with the series since posting some concept art on Instagram which he claims he drew to keep himself amused during post production on his upcoming CHAPPiE, but which now looks like the world’s least subtle pitch for the job. The director’s also confessed to having unofficial talks about the movie with CHAPPiE co-star Sigourney Weaver.

No plot or cast information has yet been announced, but one of the drawings the director posted is sure to cause a lot of debate over the next few months. It showed Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley alongside an older version of her ALIENS co-star Michael Biehn. His character Hicks was controversially killed off at the start of ALIEN 3. Has Blomkamp found a way to resurrect the popular character, or could the new movie ignore the last couple of ill-received sequels? (We’ll take it as a given that the awful ALIEN VS PREDATOR movies aren’t canon).

Although original ALIEN director Ridley Scott isn’t directly involved, the movie is being developed by his production company, Scott Free, who are also developing PROMETHEUS 2.

Whatever happens, this is exciting news. Blomkamp’s an exciting, innovative director. DISTRICT 9 is a modern sci-fi Classic, ELYSIUM was flawed but fun, and CHAPPiE looks great. So long as he doesn’t hire Sharlto Copley as the Alien Queen, we’ve got high hopes.

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