News of an Alien: Romulus sequel has been floating around for some time, and it appears director Fede Alvarez is eager to shake things up this time around.
When Alien: Romulus hit theaters last year, it received mixed reviews. While audiences seemed to enjoy it, critics weren’t as thoroughly impressed, and even some die-hard fans of the series had their reservations. The movie was criticized for leaning too heavily on previous installments and for that cringe-worthy CGI of Ian Holms, which thankfully got a bit of a facelift for the home release. Nonetheless, the film did well at the box office, paving the way for a sequel. In a recent chat with Empire, Alvarez hinted at his vision for the next installment, expressing a desire to explore “uncharted territory” within the Alien universe.
Alvarez shared, “Rodo [Sayagues, co-writer] and I are diving into that as we speak. We’re thrilled about the possibilities. We’ve almost ticked off all the boxes of what I wanted to see in Romulus and resurrected elements I missed in a long time. Now, we can sail into completely new waters.” He also hinted that the sequel’s story would continue to explore Rain, Cailee Spaeny’s character. “I think it’ll be thrilling to journey with characters you’re acquainted with from this movie to a place in the Alien franchise that’s brand new, discovering things you’ve never seen.”
However, Alvarez remains cautious, acknowledging the pitfalls of creating sequels just because they can be made. “The mistake usually with sequels is to make them simply because it’s possible, and admittedly, given Romulus’s success, we can create a sequel,” he explained. “But I wouldn’t embark on it without a really compelling idea that truly fits the name.”
Whether this sequel will live up to the franchise’s legacy is yet to be seen, but let’s hope they steer clear of resurrecting any more deceased actors in the name of nostalgia. And please, no more outlandish alien species—every Alien film since the original has had its share of those.
