Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic zombie film 28 Years Later is easily one of the most anticipated releases of 2025, especially among horror enthusiasts. This third entry in the 28 Days Later film series is set to hit theaters on June 20, 2025. Die-hard moviegoers may know that before directing 28 Days Later (2002), Danny Boyle made the cult classic Spotting (1996) and the Leonardo DiCaprio -starrer adventure drama The Beach (2000).
But what many may not know is that the Millionaire Slumdog helmer was offered the chance to direct the fourth Alien movie in the late 90s. But he turned it down and made a very different film. Read on to learn why he walked away from Alien 4 (officially titled Alien Resurrection) and which film he directed instead.
Here’s Why Danny Boyle Turned Down Alien 4
In a recent interview (via The Hollywood Reporter ), Danny Boyle was asked how seriously he thought about directing Alien 4 when it came up. He said he was very serious about it, but ended it because he felt he couldn’t handle the CGI (computer-generated imagery).
Here’s exactly what Danny Boyle said: “I met Sigourney Weaver and Winona Ryder, who were attached to it. So obviously it was very serious. They were wonderful. But it was the early days of the CG crossover. At that point, you couldn’t make the transition. And I couldn’t make it that way. I didn’t have a moment that I couldn’t make it.”
The movie Danny Boyle made instead of Alien 4
After turning down Alien 4, Danny Boyle directed a completely different film. That film was the romantic black comedy titled A Life Less Ordinary. The film follows a janitor, Robert (played by Ewan McGregor ), who kidnaps his former boss’s rich and spoiled daughter, Celine (played by Cameron Diaz). Two angels, O’Reilly (played by Holly Hunter) and Jackson (played by Delroy Lindo), are sent to Earth to see if there is a chance for love in this peculiar setting. The film received mixed reviews from critics and did not perform well at the box office.
More on alien resurrection
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the fourth installment in the sci-fi horror film series is set 200 years after Alien 3. The story follows Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver), who is cloned by scientists conducting experiments on the Xenomorphs. But all hell breaks loose when the deadly creatures escape. Now, it’s up to the part-human, part-alien Ripley to join forces with a team of mercenaries to stop the aliens from reaching Earth. The film received mixed reviews from critics and didn’t perform as well at the box office as the previous Alien films.
Alien Resurrection Trailer
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