Alien: Romulus Will Be The Perfect Next Step For Two Breakout 2023 Stars (& It Honors The Original)

The Perfect Career Move for Two Breakout Stars

Alien: Romulus is the perfect next career move for two of 2023’s biggest breakout stars – and their casting honors the traditions of Ridley Scott’s original Alien movie. Directed and co-written by Don’t Breathe’s Fede Álvarez, Alien: Romulus takes place between Alien and Aliens. While the plot details are being kept under wraps, it’s expected to go back to the franchise’s roots as a haunted house movie in space about a crew of astronauts being picked off one by one by a bloodthirsty xenomorph.

Ripley with a flamethrower in Alien

Much like he did with Don’t Breathe, Álvarez has assembled an ensemble of fantastic up-and-coming actors to lead the terror in Alien: Romulus. The cast features Isabela Merced, who played the title character in Dora and the Lost City of Gold and played the oldest of the three adopted children in Instant Family, and Archie Renaux, best known as Mal Oretsev from Shadow and Bone. But two actors in particular will get exactly the career boost they need right now from their appearance in Alien: Romulus.

Cailee Spaeny looking up in Priscilla

The cast of Alien: Romulus features Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, who each starred in one of 2023’s most acclaimed movies and earned plenty of critical praise for their performances. Spaeny was lauded for her uncanny portrayal of Priscilla Presley – and the complex emotions felt by a teenager whose first love is with the most famous man in America – in Sofia Coppola’s biopic Priscilla. Jonsson was hailed for his hilarious and heartfelt turn as Dom opposite Vivian Oparah’s Yas in the touching, fiercely original romantic comedy Rye Lane.

Dom and Yas walk through a shopping center in Rye Lane

Spaeny and Jonsson are both at the same point in their careers. They’re on Hollywood’s radar, they’ve won over both critics and audiences, and they have a bright future ahead of them – but they need to choose the right projects to secure that future. Alien: Romulus could be just what their respective careers need right now. Appearing in a big franchise film in 2024 could push Spaeny and Jonsson to the next level of stardom that they deserve.

Dom and Yas doing karaoke in Rye Lane

Honoring the Traditions of the Original Alien Movie

Casting Up-And-Coming Actors Is Another Way Alien: Romulus Is A Throwback To The Original Movie. With its scaled-back storyline and horror elements, Alien: Romulus is setting out to bring the Alien franchise back to its roots with a throwback to the original movie. Casting up-and-coming actors to lead the cast is another way that Alien: Romulus is paying homage to the original film. Sigourney Weaver wasn’t a huge star when she made Alien; the role of Ellen Ripley launched her career and made her the icon that she is today. With any luck, Alien: Romulus can do the same for Spaeny and Jonsson.

Cailee Spaeny applying makeup in Priscilla