The Alien franchise may have just been revived through sheer force of will. Earlier last month, District 9 and Elysium director Neill Blomkamp shared some really fascinating concept art for an Alien movie…an Alien movie that doesn’t exist. While doing press for his upcoming film Chappie, Blomkamp suggested that he came up with the idea for a new Alien movie and started putting together some concept art on his own, but that it wasn’t anything that he was officially hired to do. The artwork was curious in that it featured the return of Sigourney Weaver to the franchise, as well as a physically altered Hicks.

Blomkamp told us that he genuinely wanted to direct the film, adding “it may happen.” Now, in much the same way that he unveiled the concept art in the first place, Blomkamp has taken to Instagram to confirm that this Alien movie is officially his next film.

The Alien franchise got a bit of a boost two years ago when Ridley Scott returned to the material and created Prometheus, though that film was more of a prequel that was only tangentially involved with the franchise proper. Scott and 20th Century Fox are still developing Prometheus 2, but Variety confirms that the studio has officially signed Blomkamp to direct a film set within the Alien universe. The Wrap adds that Scott will produce Blomkamp's film, which will take place after the events of Prometheus 2.

This is all still bit odd, considering. It’s rare for a filmmaker to just up and disclose a project out of the blue, let alone one they haven’t officially been hired to make. And Blomkamp does have a movie to promote—one that doesn’t seem to have generated much enthusiasm following the disappointing Elysium. But he successfully willed this thing into existence, which is kind of amazing. Now the question is will he retool the plot, since he basically revealed the third act with that concept art? And will Weaver and Michael Biehn sign on? Stay tuned.