Summer blockbuster season is already off with a bang - or a slash if we’re talkingMaXXXineandLonglegs. WithDeadpool & Wolverinereinvigorating the box office,Twistersfunneling money into its bank account, andInside Out 2breaking records for Pixar, things are looking terrific for the industry as we head into the second half (womp) of the warm season. And there are still plenty of good things to come! Specifically, next month, fans of theAlienfranchise will have a chance to see a Xenomorph back on the big screen asEvil Dead(2013) directorFede Álvarezplans to take the sci-fi story back to its horror roots inAlien: Romulus.
Romuluswas one of the hottest titles totake the stage in Hall H on Fridayat San Diego Comic-Con — and that’s saying something, as the day provided presentations fromThe Boys,The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, and more. There, the audience was treated to some behind-the-scenes footage of the practical effects that the creative team had been hyping up for months and that will undoubtedly steal the show whenRomulusrises into cinemas on August 16.
Collider’s editor-in-chiefSteve Weintraubalso enjoyed some up-close and personal time with Álvarez in a studio interview where the director opened up about how the new film’s story structure took notes from theJames Cameron-helmed sequel,Aliens. Speaking of the slow build that will undoubtedly lock viewers in as they grow close to the characters only to watch the majority of them be torn to pieces, Álvarez said,
“I think that audiences definitely want a lot more from the stories, and I think we have enough time here because it’s quite a slow burn. The structure is very similar toAliensin a way, which really takes a while to really get to the horror. But I think by the time you get there, you’re invested in those characters, you want them to succeed, and that’s what makes it so heartbreaking when, unfortunately, probably some of them, a lot of them will find terrible endings.”
‘Alien: Romulus’ Will Serve As Both A Next Chapter And A Prequel
Entering a new title into a beloved yet divisive franchise certainly wasn’t a walk in the park for Álvarez but was instead a monumental undertaking. Over the years, fans of the sci-fi film series have been let down numerous times with new installments not quite living up to the magic that was first created byRidley Scottin the 1979 cinematic masterpiece. In no way is Álvarez trying to reinvent the wheel but is insteadputting the story ofRomulusin between1979’sAlienand its 1986 sequel.New characters will be introduced, but we’re expecting the movie to pay homage to the first few movies that started the obsession.
One way that Àlvarez and his creative team have planned to keep things as classic as possible is by leaning heavily onto practical effects. From working withmovement coordinatorsto enlisting the help of thepractical effects team fromAliens, no stone was left unturned and no brain unpicked as the filmmaker and his peers worked tirelessly togive future audiences a spine-chilling experience. And, withScott’s stamp of approval, we’re stoked to see the fruits of theRomulusteam’s labor in under a month.
Stay tuned to Collider for more SDCC coverage as the weekend rolls along.
Alien: Romulus
In Alien: Romulus, a crew of space explorers lands on a distant, uncharted planet, only to uncover a horrifying secret lurking beneath the surface. As they delve deeper into the alien environment, they encounter deadly creatures and ancient ruins that hint at a terrifying history. The team’s survival becomes a desperate battle against the relentless xenomorphs, forcing them to rely on their wits and technology to escape the nightmarish world.
