Ridley Scott’s Prometheus introduced numerous intriguing mysteries to the Alien franchise, yet its sequel, Alien: Covenant, largely sidestepped tackling one of the most significant unresolved queries. Many fans regard Prometheus as the most perplexing installment, a perception fueled by its introduction of complex concepts that were only later explored, such as the enigmatic black goo and the Engineers’ pivotal role in humanity’s creation. Unfortunately, much of what Prometheus set in motion was seemingly abandoned in Covenant.
The recent release of Alien: Romulus helps in slightly mending the reputation of Prometheus, particularly in its attempt to connect the black goo to the broader Alien universe. However, there remains an unresolved aspect that Romulus and its forthcoming sequel cannot rectify: the fate of the Deacon, an evolution of the xenomorph introduced in Prometheus.
The Fate of the Deacon in the Alien Franchise
The Deacon: A New Xenomorph Ignored by Covenant
At the climax of Prometheus, audiences were introduced to the Deacon, marking the first appearance of a xenomorph variant. Yet after this introduction, the narrative completely overlooked the Deacon, with Covenant failing to revisit its storyline altogether. While the comic Prometheus: Fire and Stone – Omega provided some insight into the Deacon’s fate—claiming it mutated into a gigantic creature following the influence of the black goo—this information exists outside the primary cinematic canon. As such, fans are left to wonder about Ridley Scott’s original vision for this creature and its potential impact on the franchise.
Understanding the Deacon: Origins and Complications
The Deacon’s Complex Lifecycle
The Deacon’s exclusion from Covenant may stem from its intricate lifecycle, which poses layers of complexity. To summarize, the sequence includes: David infected Charlie with the black goo, Charlie and Shaw conceived a new organism, the Trilobite was born, which then gestated within the Engineer leading to the Deacon’s emergence. Complicating matters further, the unique traits of the Deacon, such as its pointed head and initial human-like size, raise questions about its relationship to other xenomorph species. It stands unclear whether the Deacon is merely another xenomorph or if it represents something entirely distinct, potentially forged from David’s manipulative experiments.
Covenant’s Oversights: Unanswered Questions Abound
Overlooked Mysteries from Prometheus
The Deacon poses one of the largest enigmas remaining after Prometheus, but it is not the sole lingering question. Alien: Covenant glossed over numerous significant plot elements introduced in its predecessor, focusing primarily on the fates of David and Shaw upon reaching Paradise. The sequel failed to address how an Engineer vessel landed on LV-426 prior to the events of the original Alien, the authentic origins of the xenomorphs (beyond the cave art in Prometheus), and the profound nature of the Engineers themselves. Ultimately, Covenant seemed disinterested in continuing the intriguing narrative launched by Prometheus.
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Upcoming Alien Movies & Shows |
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Title |
Release Date |
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Alien: Earth |
Summer 2025 |
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Alien: Romulus 2 |
TBA |
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Ridley Scott’s Untitled Alien Movie |
TBA |
Fans of Ridley Scott’s prequel trilogy may find renewed hope in the director’s forthcoming Alien project, which might finally address some of the unanswered questions from the previous films. Should Scott choose to revisit the narrative surrounding David and his quest to engineer life, there is a strong possibility he could delve back into the stories of the Deacon, the black goo, and the enigmatic Engineers. If this happens, his next Alien film could effectively complete the narrative arc left open for eight years, potentially offering the resolution that Covenant fell short of providing.