With “Alien: Romulus,” fans can expect another installment in the sci-fi horror series after seven years. And this one is said to include a particularly nasty scene.
“Alien: Covenant” was in many ways a concession to fans and to 20th Century Studios: directing legend Ridley Scott had originally intended to crown his return to the “Alien” universe with a much more ambitious creation, planned as a trilogy, which was to be a significantly more sophisticated origin story. However, “Prometheus” was not as well received. For the general audience, the sci-fi thriller was too cerebral, and for “Alien” fans, it had too little to do with the Xenomorph. “Alien: Covenant” then attempted to appease the fans. Almost out of spite, one might say, Scott produced a sci-fi horror film devoid of any pretense, following the slasher principle of dispatching one unfortunate person after another, while the philosophical themes of “Prometheus” devolved into mere platitudes.
Seven years have passed since then. Ridley Scott has not filmed another sequel to bridge the gap to “Alien.” His ongoing prequel film series will thus remain incomplete, at least for now. However, there are two “Alien” projects in the works. One is the series helmed by showrunner Noah Hawley (“Fargo”), and the other is the film “Alien: Romulus” directed by Fede Álvarez.
Álvarez earned his stripes as a thriller and horror expert, making his feature film debut with the soft reboot “Evil Dead” before delivering claustrophobic thrills with “Don’t Breathe.” Anyone who has seen his interpretation of Sam Raimi’s horror classic knows that Álvarez is a master at disturbing and captivating audiences simultaneously. Just think of the mouth and tongue scene. And apparently, the Uruguayan filmmaker has managed to incorporate a similarly nauseating scene into “Alien: Romulus.” Isabela Merced promised as much in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. During reshoots, she had the opportunity to watch some scenes on a tablet:
“There were ten people around me watching the movie on the iPad. In one scene that I’m in, everyone had to turn away. No one continued to watch the iPad because it was so gross. […] I love science fiction, truly. So he let me watch half the movie on the iPad. […] I’m very, very excited about it.”
A scene that made everyone turn away? This could potentially become a cult scene for Gorehounds in the “Alien” franchise. In Ridley Scott’s “Alien: Covenant,” the gross-out factor was significantly increased compared to previous installments. And Álvarez is definitely capable of setting a new benchmark with “Alien: Romulus.” Also of interest to fans might be the sci-fi horror prequel “A Quiet Place: Day One.” You can watch the trailer here:
“Alien: Romulus” revolves around a group of teenagers in a hopeless struggle for survival. So, a particularly nauseating scene. Isabela Merced didn’t reveal exactly what was seen there. However, as a fan, one could imagine that it might have something to do with a Chestburster, the violent birth of a Xenomorph. These larvae are placed inside a host by a spider-like Facehugger, where they develop until they burst out of their host and kill them.
Since “Alien: Romulus” revolves around a group of young people encountering this deadly life form on a foreign planet and fighting for survival, it’s conceivable that Álvarez might have incorporated this iconic scene into a love scene. That would really be the next level of outrageousness. In addition to Isabela Merced, the film also stars Cailee Spaeny, Aileen Wu, Spike Fearn, and Archie Renaux. “Alien: Romulus” will hit theaters in the US on August 15, 2024.
If you feel like watching all the “Alien” movies again, you can stream them all on the Disney+ streaming service.
