Alien: Romulus Will Return To The 'Sheer Horror' Of The First Movie
BY RYAN SCOTT/MARCH 20, 2024 1:52 PM EST
It's been nearly seven years since Ridley Scott returned to the "Alien" franchise with the ever-divisive "Alien: Covenant." While we may not be getting a sequel to that film, Disney and 20th Century Studios are bringing the Xenomorphs back for another big-screen thrill ride in the form of this summer's "Alien: Romulus." Directed by Fede Alvarez ("Evil Dead," "Don't Breathe"), it looks like a return to the franchise's horror roots with new characters, a new ship, and familiar threats.
Alvarez recently spoke with Variety in honor of the recently released "Alien: Romulus" teaser trailer. The filmmaker was asked what he is bringing to the table for his film, which takes place 20 years after the events of the original 1979 sci-fi/horror classic. Alvarez, much like Ridley Scott and James Cameron before him, has a unique view of this universe. But his main goal? Make "Alien" scary again:
'That combination of the best of the classics and the best of today'
It's also important to point out that this isn't exactly a reboot. Even though it won't be picking up where "Covenant" left off, Alvarez worked with both Scott and Cameron to help maintain the franchise continuity. He also explained in the same interview that the aim was to make a movie that offers the best of both classic and modern filmmaking techniques to create something that feels new:
The cast for the film includes Cailee Spaeny ("Priscilla"), David Jonsson ("Agatha Christie's Murder is Easy"), Archie Renaux ("Shadow and Bone"), Isabela Merced ("The Last of Us"), Spike Fearn ("Aftersun"), and newcomer Aileen Wu. Alvarez penned the screenplay alongside Rodo Sayagues ("Don't Breathe 2").
"Alien: Romulus" is set to hit theaters on August 16, 2024.