Ridley Scott’s film studio launches VR division to accompany blockbuster hits

Ridley Scott’s RSA Films announces the launch of RSA VR, and Alien: Covenant will be its first official project.

Hopping on the success of The Martian VR Experience, RSA Films has officially launched it’s VR division and has already begun work on its first Virtual Reality experience, Alien: Covenant.

The new division will be dedicated to creative development and production of immersive media for VR, AR and Mixed Media productions.

“Ridley has a long lineage as a pioneer in creative technology, and RSA’s roster includes incredibly talented directors who understand the unique language of VR. We are pleased to offer this formidable resource to our clients,” said RSA Films President Jules Daly.

RSA Executive Producer Jen Dennis said she was thrilled when she was tapped to head-up the new VR division at RSA. Dennis had previously collaborated with Ridley Scott as co-executive producer on the multi award-winning The Martian VR Experience.

Fast Company praised the companion piece as being “Hollywood’s most ambitious VR experiment.”

“I think VR is one of the most exciting areas in the industry today, with potential to influence how we consume content for generations to come,” said Dennis.

According to the RSA website, RSA’s latest work in VR includes Juriaan Booij’s 360 immersive film campaign for Siemens, and the David Karlak-directed VR experience for Alien: Covenant, executive produced by Ridley Scott and Jen Dennis.

Other projects in development include “Blackbox,” a VR episodic series in partnership with Endless VR directed by Karlak, and a soon-to-be-announced VR documentary episodic series directed by famed photographer and director Michael Muller.

Movies and companion pieces have gone hand-in-hand in every era of technological advancement. Atari had released ET and Star Wars games on its console as early as 1982 and 1983 respectively.

As a kid growing up in the late 1980s through the mid 1990s, my most cherished PC games came from the now defunct LucasArts studios that included one of my all-time favorites, the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade point-and-click graphic adventure based on the movie of the same title.

The latest breakthrough by RSA Films is updating companion pieces to the 21st century with the launch of its new VR division.

My inner child is jumping for joy while my exterior adult is worrying about the $499 – $799 price tag among the Oculus Rift, PlayStationVR Launch Bundle, and HTC Vive options.