Pressure from Above: “Alien: Romulus” Director Reveals Nasty Warning from Ridley Scott
Andreas Rivera
August 15, 2024 5:19 am
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3 min read
Fede Álvarez revealed, upon the release of the sci-fi horror film “Alien: Romulus,” what kind of message he received from producer Ridley Scott.
It’s finally here: Seven years after “Alien: Covenant” and nearly two years after the official announcement, a new film in the “Alien” franchise, “Alien: Romulus,” has hit theaters (German release date on August 15, 2024). On Rotten Tomatoes, the sci-fi horror film directed by Fede Álvarez has already received an impressive rating of 80% based on 86 reviews. The first opinions following the world premiere were also largely positive. However, the reception was different among the editors at kino.de. Here, Álvarez’s attempt to breathe new life into the franchise did not resonate with everyone.
Nonetheless, it’s fair to say that fans of the series, thanks to the numerous nods to the two best installments, “Alien” and “Aliens,” will likely get their money’s worth. This is more than one can ask for, considering the series’ continuous downward spiral over the years. The Uruguayan filmmaker, who already brought fresh air to an outdated horror series with “Evil Dead,” has fulfilled his duty.
It’s no wonder Álvarez received a special kind of motivation—from Ridley Scott himself. The 86-year-old is, after all, a co-creator of the franchise and is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Moreover, the Brit isn’t one to hold back his opinions. If something or someone doesn’t sit well with him, he doesn’t mince words. At the start of filming, he, as producer, sent Álvarez a note containing some well-meaning advice, which the director revealed on Instagram. It read:
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“Just don’t feel any pressure,” Álvarez must have thought. It’s not as if Scott wouldn’t throw him to the Xenomorphs if he failed to meet expectations. If Álvarez ever felt any fear of the master himself, it was ultimately unwarranted. According to Álvarez, Scott found the film “damn brilliant,” as he proudly revealed at the DGA Latino Summit 2023. Sometimes, however, it’s exactly this kind of pressure that leads to peak performance. Perhaps Scott’s not-so-subtle hint was given for a reason. Otherwise, he gave Álvarez free rein to ensure that the “Alien” series receives fresh impulses.
“Alien: Romulus”: A Group of Young People Fight for Survival
“Alien: Romulus” is set in the year 2142, between the events of “Alien” and “Aliens.” Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny) and her group leave their mining colony to loot a supposedly abandoned space station, hoping to finance a better life. But what they didn’t anticipate was the unimaginable horror awaiting them on the Renaissance. The station belongs to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, which conducted some deadly experiments there.
In addition to Cailee Spaeny, the film stars Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux, David Jonsson, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. You can stream the previous films of the “Alien” series on Disney+
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