Surprise! Elizabeth Shaw Survives Events of 'Prometheus,' New 'Alien' Trailer Shows

It appears that Elizabeth Shaw did survive after the events of "Prometheus," the most recent film of the "Alien" franchise, according to a creepy new video prologue for "Alien: Covenant."

The trailer, released on YouTube, appears to continue the story of "Prometheus" and then act as a bridge to the new film, which hits theaters May 19.

"The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world," the video's description reads. "When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape." [Meet Walter: Creepy Android Comes to Life in 'Alien: Convenant' Short]

2012's "Prometheus" showed most of the crew being killed by an alien pathogen after they used a star map to travel to another planet, supposedly containing clues about humanity's forerunners, the Engineers. The pathogen killed the crew in part due to the actions of an android named "David" (played by Michael Fassbender). 

The end of "Prometheus" showed Shaw and David taking off in a ship for the Engineers' home world, and many fans assumed that David eventually killed Shaw as well. However, the new trailer shows Shaw (played by Noomi Rapace) carefully putting the badly injured David back together.

"I never experienced such compassion," David says in the trailer. He gives instructions to Shaw about how to be fixed. "It's meant to be simple," he tells Shaw, who replies, "I'm doing my best."

"You're very kind of heart, you know," David adds.

While Shaw has every reason to mistrust David, for some reason she allows him to place her into a hibernation pod, leaving him in sole command of the ship.

"And then I was alone again," David narrates. "I learned their ways. And awaited our arrival."

The last scene appears to show David looking down on a planet, with the canisters containing the xenomorph pathogen doing something — but it's unclear what exactly is going on. 

While fans will still have to wait a few weeks to get the full story, "Covenant" did release another trailer last month showing the construction of a new android called "Walter" (also played by Michael Fassbender). Framed as a "commercial," the short shows Walter waking up in a lab and introducing himself.

The "Alien" franchise began with the film "Alien" in 1979. Three sequels followed, in 1986, 1992 and 1997. "Covenant" is part of a prequel series under development, which began with "Prometheus" in 2012. There is also a related franchise, "Alien vs. Predator," which combines the "Alien" and "Predator" film universes.

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Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace