Back in March 2014, 20th Century Fox set a March 4, 2016 release date for the highly-anticipated sci-fi sequel Prometheus 2, while bringing on Michael Green (Green Lantern) to write the screenplay. But soon after, the sequel got delayed. We haven't heard much about the production since then. Director Ridley Scott has revealed to Total Film magazine that he is scheduled to start shooting Prometheus 2 in January 2016. 20th Century Fox has not issued a new release date quite yet, but the studio announced last year that Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children has taken over the March 4, 2016 release date.

The director wouldn't divulge any plot details for Prometheus 2, but Ridley Scott did add that he is interested in making sci-fi movies again, stating, "I've got back into the sci-fi thing, I kind of adore it." The filmmaker's last movie, the Biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings, only took in $65 million domestically, but earned $268 million worldwide from a $140 million production budget. His next film, which is firmly rooted in the sci-fi genre is The Martian, which hits theaters this October. It follows Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded on Mars.

Ridley Scott teased last year that Prometheus 2 will feature a new alien, and it is believed that original Prometheus stars Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender will be back to reprise their roles as Elizabeth Shaw and the android David. The original movie followed Elizabeth Shaw, an archaeologist tasked with finding the Engineers, aliens who were responsible for the creation of humanity. Now that we know Ridley Scott plans to shoot Prometheus 2 next year, it raises questions about another intriguing project: Alien 5.

20th Century Fox announced earlier this year that it is developing Alien 5, which has Neill Blomkamp set to direct, with Ridley Scott producing. The concept artwork released by Neill Blomkamp featured characters such as Sigourney Weaver's Ripley and Michael Biehn's Corporal Hicks. While it is believed that these characters will be featured in the sequel, no actors have been confirmed yet. The studio is reportedly targeting Alien 5 for a 2017 release, so it's possible that fans could see both Alien 5 and Prometheus 2 in 2017, since a 2016 release seems unlikely, given the production schedule. It's worth noting that Ridley Scott recently signed on to direct The Cartel for 20th Century Fox, but it isn't known when that adaptation will move forward.

At the end of Prometheus, both Shaw and David set off on a journey to the Engineers' home planet, but it isn't known if there will be a large jump in time between the original and this sci-fi sequel, or if it will take place directly after Prometheus ends. Ridley Scott has also said in the past that Prometheus 2 won't feature any of the classic Xenomorph creatures. Now that a shooting schedule has apparently been worked out, hopefully we'll learn a lot more about this project soon. What do you think about these new details?