{"id":1875,"date":"2026-07-08T20:40:43","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:40:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1875"},"modified":"2026-07-08T20:40:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:40:43","slug":"ridley-scott-alien-franchise-alum-set-for-new-historical-movie-rivaling-tom-hiddlestons-new-disney-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=1875","title":{"rendered":"Ridley Scott &#038; Alien Franchise Alum Set For New Historical Movie Rivaling Tom Hiddleston&#8217;s New Disney Series"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"display-card-hyperlink display-card-hyperlink-no-vignette\" data-id=\"180018\" style=\";  ;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/tag\/person\/ridley-scott\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ridley Scott<\/a><\/span> has set a new collaboration with an <em>Alien<\/em> franchise alumnus.    <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>At 88 years old, Scott is showing no signs of slowing down in Hollywood. Following <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/gladiator-2-movie-review\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Gladiator II<\/em> (2024)<\/a>, his next release as a director will arrive on August 28 with <em>The Dog Stars<\/em>, a post-apocalyptic thriller. In addition to directing, Scott also remains active as a producer through his company, Scott Free Productions.<\/p>\n<p>Per <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/07\/scott-free-vesuvius-challenge-guy-pearce-documentary-1236976264\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Deadline<\/em><\/a>, Scott Free is now set to work with <em>Prometheus<\/em> (2012) star Guy Pearce on <em>The Vesuvius Challenge<\/em>, an upcoming documentary feature. Developed and produced in partnership with Infinite Films, the documentary will feature Pearce as narrator, with Daniel DiMauro and Morgan Pehme directing. A synopsis for the movie is included below:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cFor decades, computer scientist Brent Seales has pursued an obsession long thought impossible: reading the hundreds of scrolls carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D,\u201d the film\u2019s logline reads. \u201cArmed with cutting-edge imaging, artificial intelligence, and relentless determination, Dr. Seales and his underdog team work to digitally unlock the secrets of ancient Rome\u2019s only surviving library. As their quest captures global attention, <em>The Vesuvius Challenge<\/em> becomes a high-stakes story of perseverance, discovery, and humanity\u2019s quest to recover the great lost books of antiquity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The announcement follows news that scientists can now unwrap and read damaged Herculaneum scrolls. These scrolls and their contents have remained shrouded in mystery since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius almost 2000 years ago.<\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Credit:\u00a0Cover Images&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"928\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Guy Pearce at the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/guy-pearce.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Guy Pearce at the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards<\/figcaption><small class=\"body-img-caption\">Credit:\u00a0Cover Images<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Scott himself executive produces <em>The Vesuvius Challenge, <\/em>adding to a long list of EP credits, including <em>The Terror <\/em>(2018-2026), <em>Trap House<\/em> (2025), <a href=\"http:\/\/screenrant.com\/alien-earth-tv-review\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Alien: Earth <\/em>(2025-)<\/a>, <em>Dope Thief<\/em> (2025), and <em>Echo Valley<\/em> (2025). Other executive producers on the upcoming documentary include Jim O\u2019Shaughnessy, Elyse Seder, Nick Tawil, Fredrik Stanton and Alex Petkas.<\/p>\n<p><em>The Vesuvius Challenge <\/em>arrives after the forming of a Nonfiction team at Scott Free. Fiction content remains a primary focus at the company, but Scott Free has released documentary projects like <em>Still Missing Morgan<\/em> (2023)<em> <\/em>and <em>At Witt&#8217;s End: The Hunt for A Killer<\/em> (2024).<\/p>\n<p>Though Scott and Pearce may not be actively working together on <em>The Vesuvius Challenge<\/em>, the two creatives did reunite for <em>The Dog Stars<\/em>. Jacob Elordi leads the intense sci-fi thriller film, with Pearce, Josh Brolin, and Margaret Qualley making up the supporting cast.<\/p>\n<p> \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n<p><em>Prometheus<\/em> was the first of Scott&#8217;s <em>Alien<\/em> prequel movies, followed by <em>Alien: Covenant<\/em> in 2017, which Pearce did not return for. A third film was planned, but <em>Covenant<\/em>&#8216;s poor box office performance led to a change of plans, with Scott stepping into a producer role for <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/alien-romulus-movie-review\/\" target=\"_blank\">Fede Alvarez&#8217;s <em>Alien: Romulus<\/em><\/a> (2024).<\/p>\n<p>The announcement of <em>The Vesuvius Challenge<\/em> comes just before the premiere of another major volcano documentary project with <em>Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston<\/em>. Set to premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on July 22, the documentary series features Hiddleston as viewers&#8217; guide through the disaster and the lives of the ordinary citizens it affected.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not yet clear when <em>The Vesuvius Challenge<\/em> may arrive, or where it may launch. The film could seemingly be the start of a much larger push into documentaries for Scott, at least as an executive producer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card tag type-generic large \" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"false\" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"763b-4fb8-bef805b9eabb\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column large\">\n<p>                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img \" data-stnl-group-once=\"HcUY3IqQZx\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/><img width=\"280\" height=\"420\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Headshot Of Ridley Scott In The Premiere of 'Napoleon' at The Prado Museum\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/instar53228400.jpg?q=70&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=280&amp;dpr=1\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- User Rating widget --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n<p>                    <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info\">\n<dl>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Birthdate<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNovember 30, 1937<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Birthplace<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSouth Shields, County Durham, England<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Height<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 feet 8 inches<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- div --><\/p>\n<p><dt>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Professions<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t<\/dt>\n<dd>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFilm Director, Producer<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card main info widget end -->\n                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Default Description or Custom one added by creator ( override )--><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-763b-4fb8-bef805b9eabb\" name=\"extra-content-763b-4fb8-bef805b9eabb\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Affiliate links section --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ridley Scott has set a new collaboration with an Alien franchise alumnus. At 88 years old, Scott is showing no signs of slowing down in Hollywood. Following Gladiator II (2024), his next release as a director will arrive on August 28 with The Dog Stars, a post-apocalyptic thriller. In addition to directing, Scott also remains&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/alien-filmmaker-ridley-scott-at-the-premiere-of-napoleon-at-the-prado-museum.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}