A new big screen take on Alien Nation is on the way from 20th Century Fox. The Hollywood Reporter has the news, bringing word that the 1988 feature will be getting a full reboot with Iron Man scribes Matt Holloway and Art Marcum attached to provide the screenplay.
The original film, directed by Graham Baker, took place in a near future Los Angeles, shortly after a race of humanoid extraterrestrials, known as Newcomers, took refuge on Earth. An allegory for racial prejudice, the narrative followed a pair of police officers, human Matthew Sykes (James Caan) and Newcomer George Francisco (Mandy Patinkin). The film was followed by a single season 22-episode television spinoff with Gary Graham and Eric Pierpoint playing Sikes and Francisco, respectively. The show’s popularity was such that, even after being cancelled, “Alien Nation” continued through a series of telefilms. Five different movies were aired between 1994 and 1997.
The trade likens the new approach to the studio’s recent take on the Planet of the Apes franchise. Oddly enough, both Planet of the Apes and Alien Nation actually crossed over in comic book form with the 1991 Malibu Comics four issue minsieres “Ape Nation.”
No producer is, as of yet, attached to the new Alien Nation film, but check back for updates as they become available.
