Mind-Blowing Alien Sequel Sweeps Hollywood's Toughest Critic Off Their Feet

Highlights

After a streak of mediocre sequels, Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez, has garnered praise from Ridley Scott, the original director.

Álvarez's anxiety about presenting the film to Scott transformed into delight when Scott praised it as "absolutely fantastic" and commended the dialogue.

With Álvarez's expertise in the horror genre and knack for honoring the creative vision of previous directors, he stands as a promising candidate to breathe fresh vitality into the four-decade-old franchise.

After a series of underwhelming sequels, the latest addition to the Alien franchise has managed to impress one of Hollywood's most discerning creators. It has been a while since Sigourney Weaver last portrayed her iconic character, Ellen Ripley, but the horror films in the series have continued to be released. In recent years, films like Prometheus and Alien: Covenant received mixed reviews. However, according to filmmaker Fede Álvarez, his upcoming work titled Alien: Romulus may avoid the same pitfalls. Álvarez, known for his direction of the Evil Dead reboot and Don't Breathe, has put his unique take on the franchise, and the ultimate test was presenting the film to its original director, Ridley Scott.

At the DGA Latino Summit 2023, Álvarez expressed his anxiety about presenting Alien: Romulus to Scott, known for his unfiltered opinions. However, upon watching the film, the Blade Runner director wholeheartedly expressed his support. According to Álvarez, Deadline reported that Scott walked into the room and said, "Fede, what can I say? It's f***ing great." Álvarez described this encounter as one of the best moments of his life, as he admired Scott greatly and was thrilled to have him watch a movie he had made, especially something like Alien: Romulus. Scott even spent an hour discussing what he liked about the film, with one of his best compliments being, "The dialogue is great. Are you the writer?" Álvarez proudly affirmed, "Yes!"

Alien: Romulus is set to be a standalone addition to the franchise, taking place between the events of Alien and Aliens. This means that Ripley's storyline, where she was in a deep sleep waiting to be rescued, will not be featured in the film. Instead, the focus will be on a new group of characters from a distant planet who must face one of sci-fi's most terrifying creatures.

Álvarez's experience in the horror genre makes him a valuable addition to the project. Introducing a fresh perspective to the 40-year-old Alien franchise is exactly what it needs. His successful handling of the Evil Dead franchise demonstrates his ability to stay true to a previous director's vision. However, it remains to be seen whether Álvarez will live up to Scott's praise. The director has a reputation for having strong opinions, and even expressed his dislike for the Blade Runner sequel, which took a different approach than the original.

Scott is not without flaws either, as he has directed some underwhelming films himself. It is understandable for someone with his extensive industry experience to make occasional mistakes. Fans did not particularly adore the ending of Alien: Covenant, and recent films like House of Gucci were excessive and exaggerated. The true worth of Alien: Romulus as a valuable addition to the franchise will only be determined with time.

The theatrical release of Alien: Romulus is scheduled for August 16, 2024.

Source: DGA Latino Summit 2023 (via Deadline)