Alan Ritchson’s 107-Minute Netflix Thriller Is Officially Using the Aliens Blueprint for Its Sequel

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When the film launched on Netflix on March 6, 2026, and quickly reached 44.4 million views in its first week, it became obvious that audiences see Alan Ritchson as a genuine action star, even beyond his role in Reacher. It also proved that sometimes, the most satisfying entertainment is simply watching a powerful hero battle an overwhelming alien threat. And, the film’s ending strongly suggests a sequel is coming.

It’s no surprise that Ritchson and director Patrick Hughes (known for The Hitman’s Bodyguard) were eager to discuss a possible sequel during their interview with Liam Crowley from ScreenRant. Ritchson was especially enthusiastic, revealing the working title for the sequel is War Machines – a clear nod to the 1986 film Aliens.

War Machine Has More Than a Hint of Predator About It

War Machine isn’t a straightforward film – it’s packed with detailed world-building and impressive special effects, alongside thrilling stunts, explosions, and chases. Despite all this, the movie gets straight to the point and stays focused on the main story, making its hour and 47-minute runtime feel fast-paced. Ultimately, it’s a classic underdog story about one person facing an incredibly powerful alien enemy, and that’s why it’s so effective.

Anyone familiar with the 1987 film Predator will quickly notice the similarities to War Machine. Both movies are fast-paced, action-packed, and blend science fiction with elements of horror and survival. The team of soldiers led by Ritchson’s character mirrors the group from Predator, though they’re less seasoned, and similarly begin to fall victim to a powerful enemy. Just like Dutch’s team in Predator, Ritchson’s unit faces a relentless and overwhelming threat at every turn.

War Machine’s Ending Hints That an Aliens-Esque Genre Pivot Is Coming

As the story progresses, Ritchson’s character, known only as Candidate 81, is the only one left – much like Arnold Schwarzenegger in similar roles. He has to push himself to the absolute limit, relying on his bravery, strength, cleverness, and sheer determination to overcome the machines.

After destroying the frightening Leviathan with 81 strikes, War Machine moves beyond the typical *Predatorstyle story. Director Hughes establishes that the next installment will be a much larger, worldwide adventure. The machine that attacked his team wasn’t alone – many others have crashed on Earth and launched attacks across the globe. Because 81 is the only person to have successfully defeated one, he’s recruited into a military initiative called “Operation Global Shield” to protect humanity.

While the first movie focused on a small group of soldiers battling a single alien threat, the next one is aiming to be a huge, action-packed sci-fi war on a global scale. This will require a bigger budget and a much larger story, which might seem like a risky change. However, the success of the first film proves they can pull it off.

With Aliens, James Cameron transformed the series into an action-packed, high-intensity sci-fi war film, featuring heavily armed space marines battling countless ferocious aliens. It was a significant risk, but 20th Century Fox supported Cameron, and the result was one of the greatest sequels of all time.

Alan Ritchson and Director Patrick Hughes Already Have the War Machine Sequel Mapped Out

It’s a big challenge to make something as good as Aliens, but turning War Machine into a franchise makes sense. If Netflix wants to build on War Machine, the sequel – potentially called War Machines – needs to be bigger and bolder. Following the example set by James Cameron’s Aliens is the perfect way to do that, with more action, tougher enemies, and higher stakes.

Furthermore, the story could help the main character develop, something that wasn’t fully explored in Alien. War Machines could achieve this with character 81, as there’s no better place for personal growth than a warzone. This setting would also allow us to gradually reveal more about his enigmatic past, and perhaps even uncover his true identity.

As a huge fan of both Ritchson and Hughes, I’m really hoping War Machines gets made! It’s not officially confirmed yet, which is a little frustrating, but everything seems to be pointing in the right direction. What’s cool is that even without a definite green light, they’re already brainstorming and working on the sequel in their minds – that’s dedication, and it gives me a lot of hope!

He excitedly announced they have a lot more story to tell. The director, Hughes, reassured fans that he has a clear vision for where the story could go, having already planned out future developments. He fondly remembered writing the first movie, saying he really connected with the character of 81 and the world surrounding him. He finished by saying he’s eager to continue the story if given the chance.

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2026-03-26 00:14