[Movie] Alien: Romulus

[Ihavewaffles]

Shit, I want the 'old' Alien sequel-plot that was rumored to bounce around for, forever, in Hollywood - that was going to FINALLY give us "Aliens on Earth" (and not in the AvP ways we got). Do THAT movie.

They are doing that, but as a show...I'm really REALLY not fond of that idea...

"In space nobody can hear you scream" about the unknown horrors out there, trying to bring it home kinda diminishes it methinks...



The Alien TV Show Is in Active Pre-Production.

https://www.ign.com/articles/the-ali...pre-production
BY ANTHONY WOOD - JAN 13, 2023 4:38 PM

The upcoming FX TV series set in the Alien universe is “gearing up for production this year”, according to FX boss John Landgraf.

The series - which is being helmed by Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley and Ridley Scott- was first revealed back in January 2021, and is set to be a prequel to Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror masterpiece.

Landgraf’s latest comments, which were first reported by Deadline and spotted by Games Radar, were made during the Television Critics Association’s January press tour.

“Noah is currently in production on the fifth season of Fargo but he’s in active preproduction on Alien, he’s written scripts,” explained Landgraf. “I think he’s meeting with his production designer in Austin this weekend, gearing up for production this year after he completes the fifth season of Fargo.”

The Alien universe has expanded dramatically since it first hit the silver screen on September 6 1979. Scott returned to direct two further sequels in the mainline trilogy, along with the prequels Prometheus and Covenant, which significant expanded the lore surrounding the alien threat.

Numerous video games, comic books, novels, and of course Predator crossover movies have also introduced new characters and threats to the setting.

The upcoming TV series is due to be set on Earth roughly 70 years from now, and will see a core cast struggle (and likely fail) to contain the insidious spread of the xenomorph threat.

[Triceron]

Hrm, so looks like this is a TV series for FX?

How do the rights for the franchise work now exactly? Is Disney behind this on any level, since they own Fox? Or are the rights held elsewhere?

-edit-

Ah, looks like Hulu/FX are both Disney owned. Didn't know.

[Ihavewaffles]

There is a movie, and a tv show being made, I only mentioned the tv show due to someone talking about earth..

Same with dune, the movies n the tv show (the sisterhood), different projects

[Ophenia]

The last opus was so cliché that I'm not sure I want to see another one tbh.

[Koriani]

There is a movie, and a tv show being made, I only mentioned the tv show due to someone talking about earth..

Same with dune, the movies n the tv show (the sisterhood), different projects

Well as much as I'm on board to watching anything with Xenomorphs... (Cuz I luv them! As a creature design.) I WILL give the show I chance, I have no doubt. I just would have less reservations if they were going for "normal timeline" (Say post-Aliens II/III) rather than prequel.

I mean sure, there's not much lore they can violate. They have pretty full reign over what Wayland-Yukatani (I have the tshirt and still can't spell it...lol) was doing up until Alien I and the 'discovery of Aliens by everyone else' , esp. if they never do any of the comic book stuff anyway. BUT I still think the full freedom of post-movie timeline, and the variety of crap you could do there, would be better.

As for whether aliens in space vs. in earth would make them more or less scary - I think that all relies on how its done, and less on the setting itself. *shrugs* It did always seem like a nice way to ROUND OFF the story and the END IT (As in Aliens 5 being an END.) But that isn't what any of these movies are trying to do anyway - end it, I mean. =D

[Ihavewaffles]

Alien Romulus: Cast, plot, filming details out for the next Alien movie.

https://www.wionews.com/entertainmen...n-movie-568532
New Delhi Edited By: Kshitij Mohan Rawat Updated: Mar 04, 2023, 05:02 PM IST

The next iteration in the Alien franchise has set its cast and filming schedule. The yet-untitled project, to be directed by Evil Dead and Don't Breathe helmer Fede Álvarez, will begin filming on March 9 in Budapest, reported Variety. The synopsis was also revealed but it is so general that it might have been of any Alien movie. It says that the film will follow “a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.” The cast is as follows: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

[Ihavewaffles]

Alien: Romulus Wraps Production on the Ridley Scott-Produced Sequel

https://www.cbr.com/alien-romulus-mo...varez-wrapped/
BY NNAMDI EZEKWE - 3 HOURS AGO

The filmmaker took to Instagram to reveal the end of shooting for the movie. Álvarez is pictured sitting outside his trailer, holding a celebratory cigar to mark the occasion. Álvarez, whose movie credits include The Girl in the Spider's Web, Don't Breathe, and Evil Dead, is making his debut in the iconic horror sci-fi franchise, Alien. The movie will be his fourth feature film.

Alien: Romulus will arrive in cinemas on August 16, 2024.

[Ihavewaffles]

Ridley Scott Thinks Fede Álvarez's 'Alien' Movie is "F*cking Great"

https://collider.com/alien-movie-fed...cott-comments/
BY CHRIS MCPHERSON - 19 HOURS AGO

Fede Álvarez has recently concluded work on his upcoming Alien film — believed to be, but not confirmed, titled Alien: Romulus — and recently had to go through the nerve-shredding prospect of showing it off to series producer, and originator, Ridley Scott. Álvarez's Alien film focuses on “a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.” It stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

Speaking to Guillermo del Toro at the DGA Latino Summit 2023 (around the 18-minute mark), Álvarez noted that he had completed his "director's cut" of his Alien film and that he recently went through what he described as "the incredibly tense process of obviously sending it to Ridley Scott,” who is a lead producer on the sequel. Scott famously helmed the original Alien in 1979, before going on to direct two pseudo-follow-ups in the shape of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.

“I wanted him to see it before anybody. And everyone gave me the head’s up that Ridley is really tough. He’s really tough, particularly if it has something to do with his movies. He was really tough on ‘Blade Runner [2049],’ which I thought was a masterpiece, and he had issues with it because it’s really hard for him because it’s his work...I asked him about the new ‘Top Gun’ and he’s like ‘meh.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ And he was like, ‘My brother’s was original and this is like eh.’ He really respected it, but you could see how tough he was. So I was like, ‘There’s no way I win this one.'”

The director admitted he was extremely apprehensive about the prospect of meeting Scott in person to discuss his feelings about the new film, but believed it was vital he be there face to face to listen to the series originator's thoughts on what he'd just seen. But to his immense relief, Scott was effusive in his praise of the film, giving Álvarez the self-belief he needs to get the film out into theaters in 2024.

“Even if he didn’t ask for it, I was gonna go there and sit at a table and look at him and get it,” said Álvarez. “Even if he was gonna say, ‘You destroyed my legacy,’ I wanted to be in front of him and see him in the eye. I didn’t want to get an email where it says ‘Ridley says…’

“And then he walks into the room and he did say, ‘Fede, what can I say? It’s fucking great,'” Álvarez continued. “For me, it was like… My family knows it was one of the best moments of my life to have a master like him, whom I admired so much, to even watch a movie I made, but particularly something like this… and talk to me for an hour about what he liked about it. One of the best compliments he said was, ‘The dialogue is great. Are you the writer?’ Yes!”

Fede Alvarez's as-yet-untitled Alien film is set for release on August 16, 2024.

[Koriani]

Yeah I read that this morning.

And I mean, cool on Alvarez for getting that type of feedback from the creator of the IP. I'm sure that felt awesome.

But as Ridley is also the one who thought his OWN last two Alien movies (Prometheus, Covenant) were probably "Fucking great", I take his opinion the same as others - with a grain of salt. Or at least, I'm hoping he thought his own movies were "fucking great", else I wouldn't think he'd release them.

After listening to Stephen King's opinion on various media over the years (ones made by others and adaptations of his own work), I learned a long time ago that just because I may enjoy what an author or director creates, on every level possible, it does NOT mean we share other opinions on what's good. (lol)

[Ihavewaffles]

So...what are they gonna do? Explain the plot hole of weyland yutani knowing about the planetoid for all those decades n not doing anything about it? Besides putting up a colony n still ignoring the juggernaut ship... I mean it has a signal "warning" revealing its location.. yet nobody thought to go check it out until Burke did?


‘Alien: Romulus’ Star Cailee Spaeny Confirms New Entry Is Set Between the First Two Films

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/a...ny-1235810521/
Nov 27, 2023 4:55pm PT - By J. Kim Murphy

The Gotham Awards are a night to celebrate independent film, but Cailee Spaeny snuck in a tease for 20th Century Studios’ upcoming “Alien: Romulus” when asked about the project on the red carpet Monday evening. The “Priscilla” star is leading the Fede Alvarez-directed revival, which has been described as a standalone story in the “Alien” universe. Now, Spaeny has confirmed a rumor regarding its place within the continuity of the franchise.

“It’s supposed to slot in between the first movie and the second movie,” Spaeny tells Variety’s Michaela Zee. “They brought the same team from ‘Aliens,’ the James Cameron film. The same people who built those xenomorphs actually came on and built ours. So getting to see the original design with the original people who have been working on these films for 45-plus years and has been so much of their life has been really incredible.”

Ridley Scott’s original 1979 sci-fi horror film concluded with Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley ejecting a xenomorph out of her escape pod and putting herself into cryogenic sleep for a long voyage back to human civilization. Seven years later, James Cameron picked up the story with “Aliens,” which saw Ripley accompany a military mission to investigate a potential xenomorph attack on a far-flung space colony. Whether “Alien: Romulus” specifically relates to Ripley or the events of those first two entries remains uncertain.

“My first film was big-budget sci-fi,” Spaeny continues, referring to her role in the 2018 kaiju sequel “Pacific Rim: Uprising.” “I feel like I’m going back to that world. And I have so much fun. I like trying to do as many different things as I can. So I swapped my high heels and my beehive for spacesuits and lots of wire work. … I love watching those old ‘70s, ‘80s action sci-fi films. And I’m such a fan of that IP and Sigourney Weaver. It’s legendary to get to be a part of it.”

On the Gothams carpet, Spaney also offered a response to Variety’s report that Lisa Marie Presley expressed shock and horror over scripts for “Priscilla” before the film went into production. The late daughter of Elvis Presley, who died four months after sending emails regarding the Sofia Coppola film, stated that her “father only comes across as a predator and manipulative” in the project.

“My heart went out to her when I read those messages. But I spent my time talking to Priscilla because that’s who the movie was about,” Spaeny says. “That’s who I was playing. That’s where I put all my time was with her and to make sure she felt safe and that she felt represented in telling the story.”

Spaeny is nominated for outstanding lead performance for “Priscilla” at this year’s Gotham Awards. “Alien: Romulus” is set to hit theaters on Aug. 16, 2024.

[Ihavewaffles]

Gore is not what made Alien great... 1st Alien was done by ridley scott who isn't a horror director, and Aliens was an action movie by james cameron...if they now think gore porn will save the franchise, this will just be another nail in the coffin...


Gross Alien: Romulus Update Proves Ridley Scott's Replacement Isn't Being Wasted

https://screenrant.com/alien-romulus...rez-not-waste/
BY TOMMY LETHBRIDGE - 10 HOURS AGO

An update from the set of Alien: Romulus confirms that the movie will feature at least one "disgusting" scene – providing proof that the movie is playing to the strengths of director Fede Álvarez. Body horror has always been an important part of the Alien franchise. Although the original movie's chestburster sequence remains the series' most iconic example (and one of the most important scenes in cinema history), every installment has relied on gore and the xenomorph's violent nature to elicit terror. However, in Álvarez's case, the pledge to continue this trend is particularly exciting.

Aside from a commitment to gore, little concrete is known about Alien: Romulus' story. An official synopsis confirms that the film will feature "a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe" – establishing a setup that's not dissimilar to other entries in the franchise. However, Romulus star Isabela Merced has also confirmed that the movie includes one scene that's so "disgusting" that the whole crew had to "turn away" when watching it on an iPad. It's this detail that suggests, if nothing else, Alien: Romulus is making full use of Álvarez's talents.

The promise of a truly visceral body horror sequence in Alien: Romulus is not just true to the franchise's origins but proves that Fede Álvarez is playing to his strengths as a director. His previous releases, such as Evil Dead and Don't Breathe, have all utilized explicit content extremely effectively, highlighting Álvarez's ability as a director to use violence to shock. Given that this is the primary purpose of Alien's chestburster scene, the fact that Álvarez is expressing himself in a similar way bodes well for Romulus being a tonally faithful addition to the series.

The confirmation from Merced of the scene's explicit nature also suggests that Álvarez's plans aren't being diluted. Any time extreme violence constitutes part of a major studio release, there are inevitable concerns that studio interference will compromise the director's vision for the sake of commercial appeal. Merced's remarks about just how shocking one particular Alien: Romulus scene suggests that Álvarez may not have to compromise, with the result being that the finished movie is a true reflection of his vision.

Although later Alien movies have tried to recapture the haunting majesty of Scott's original, none have been able to perfect the balance between immersive sci-fi and oppressive terror. Even before the movie's commitment to "disgusting" violence, Álvarez's career suggests he might be the perfect director to do it. Don't Breathe remains one of the most intense horror thrillers of the past decade, while Evil Dead arguably surpassed the original when it came to shocking and unsettling gore.

It remains to be seen whether Álvarez can transpose the strengths of these movies into a sci-fi setting. However, the director's previous work certainly suggests that he can go a long way towards recreating the original Alien's claustrophobic atmosphere. Whatever the other challenges of adhering to Alien's complex lore and timeline requirements, Álvarez certainly seems capable of delivering on the horror elements that make the franchise so iconic in Alien: Romulus.

[Koriani]

While I agree the movie's success didn't rely on 'gore' in that heavy handed way; the article /is/ right in that part of the Alien's horror focus is driven by "body horror" - even if its not always shown to excess or reaches the level of say a Cronenburg movie =D.

It references the iconic chest busting body horror of the first, but each of the movies (both older 4 and newer 2) had scenes of body horror/ "gore". I mean we may be immune to some of it, but every "sleeping" head and body you see hanging in an alien-hive-sac is a use of gory "body horror". Not just the chest busting or the mouth-entering scenes count.

And if there was no gore, if there was /no/ body horror - it just wouldn't /be/ Aliens.

Of course its a "we shall see" situation - but just reading that doesn't give me any more misgivings, or more hope either. I'm guardedly hopeful for something "good" (even if not great), but that's as far as I can get .

[Ihavewaffles]

Are we sure the writers won and hollywood didn't go for ai writing? Sure sounds like it...


Alien: Romulus scoop: Details about the Weyland-Yutani Romulus Station and (SPOILER) Xenomorphs!

EXCLUSIVE

https://www.alien-covenant.com/news/...ler-xenomorphs
Chris - 2024-03-12 18:52:57

We have supposed information on certain plot elements of Alien: Romulus! As with previous Alien films like Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, we've been privileged to gain insight to the film's plot through the collaborative efforts between tipsters and fellow fans who have special access to insider information. We will be revealing some elements of the film's plot to help build hype and excitement for the upcoming Alien movie by Fede Alvarez while simultaneously respecting the efforts by Alvarez and crew and fellow fans by trying not to ruin any surprises and spoil any important details or twists.

This website was founded and built on dissecting, analyzing and debating rumors, leaks and scoops for Ridley Scott's Prometheus back in 2011, so the trend will continue for Fede Alvarez's Alien: Romulus. It is important to note, the scoops we are providing are relayed by individuals not affiliated with this website, who have access to insider information and materials we do not have direct access to. Take what's revealed with a grain of salt, until marketing materials and additional, official materials released can confirm or deny our reports.

With that out of the way, let's get into the first scoop!

So, what is ROMULUS in the title Alien: Romulus? Simply put, the name ROMULUS is the name of the Weyland-Yutani research station in the movie. The station is said to have been abandoned for some time by the time the film takes place. The station will be investigated by a crew of six scavengers, of which Rain (played by Cailee Spaeny) is the lead. Andy (David Jonsson) is Rain’s android brother. The Romulus station is described as circular / funnel shaped and was once a bustling research facility before something happened, leaving it abandoned for years. Not only that, according to our sources:

Xenomorphs infested the place on their own, with new versions of them that are more ferocious and intense.

Alien: Romulus will introduce new forms of, more ferocious Xenomorphs / Chestbursters and Facehuggers. This coincides with our previous report where it was acknowledged that the Facehuggers in Alien: Romulus have spiked barbs on their fingers - making the act of face-hugging way more graphic and gruesome.

The society Rain and Andy come from do not like Synthetic Androids vey much and there's more to this dynamic explored in the film's plot. Aesthetically speaking, the planet they come from is described as being "industrial grit". This will be a dramatic contrast to the more pristine aesthetic of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant's ships and environments.

It is also worth mentioning that our source is not that familiar with Alien franchise lore to the extent many of us on this website are. Some details will be omitted to preserve certain surprises in the film which would be considered major spoilers to those of us who take Alien lore and those details more seriously.

More to follow...

- - - Updated - - -

A theory just popped into me brain, the 'accident' for the Prometheus Engineers just prior to heading to Earth is a bit sus...what are the chances?

One of them must have disagreed with the mission and on purpose let loose the monster stuff...they all died except the one that humans go wake up after 2k years, why was he the only one that survived n why did he decide to take a nap before starting the sequence to head to Earth? Nobody was starting the ship up...maybe he was the saboteur?

Then he is woken up and shown the worst traits of humanity in front of him n that mouth-breathing Weyland waves his finger in front of him...like, TOTALLY RUDE!

[ParanoiD84]

Looks awesome alien is one of my favorite franshises.

I take it this thread is about this?

[Ihavewaffles]

Yup. Mods can change title if they want to, was no title when I made thread (lol, that was in 2019...)

There is a 2nd alien thread, but that is for the TV show
https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...Announces-Lead

as for trailer, I don't recall, did they use to show so much xeno stuff in the other trailers?

- - - Updated - - -

Looking at the trailer...uhm, since when could facehuggers break through doors? That goes against Cameron's Aliens n established lore...

Hicks "Looks like love at first sight to me"

[Koriani]

I'm still /hopeful/ this is half-decent. I liked the trailer, saw nothing immediately 'uhoh' or anything about it. Cetainly tries to convey that same horror 'feel' - confined in ship corridors, trapped with an alien in space, etc.

As for prior trailers - While I certainly can't remember 1982/85 and whether Aliens II or 3 commercials "revealed much" about the aliens, the first movie of course had no 'reveal' in its trailers. It barely showed the creature in the movie, itself. Aliens IV commercials I know showed them, because the 'water swimming alien' shot was in the trailers (among others).

All the AVPs trailers showed some aliens... if you want to count those as "alien" movies.

The ones that really did NOT show aliens in the trailer? Prometheus and Covenant.

This trailer featured more facehuggers really, there was just the one shot of the 'little mouth in big mouth' at the end of the trailer. That's not a reveal. None of what was showed in the trailer 'reveals' anything other than "this is the alien you expected."

And honestly, after the non-standard-alien mess that was the last two Ridley Scott Alien movies, perhaps the trailer aliens are purposefully there to try and let people know "HEY This isn't THAT type of Alien movie - we're like the old ones!" =D

~
Break through doors? Watch the trailer again - at /best/ the huggers (multiples) broke through GLASS in a door. You can even hear the glass breaking. And as they produce acid for blood, and there's mulitple huggers, I can certainly come up with at least 2 scenarios where them breaking through glass is possible and sensical .

Why you try to read soooooo much into 30 seconds?

[DarkAmbient]

Just let it die. The original was the best, the 2nd was a fun action film but wasn't scary. Ridley fucked up the prequels. Everyone knows what the xenomorphs look like now, everyone knows about the facehuggers and the chestbursting and the acid blood. There's no novelty here, just poor rehashes of something that was done best decades ago.

[Ihavewaffles]

Break through doors? Watch the trailer again - at /best/ the huggers (multiples) broke through GLASS in a door. You can even hear the glass breaking. And as they produce acid for blood, and there's mulitple huggers, I can certainly come up with at least 2 scenarios where them breaking through glass is possible and sensical .

Why you try to read soooooo much into 30 seconds?

The whole point of the facehugger reaching end of its cycle, to die, is that there will be something much more powerful, the xenomorph drone.

Facehugger supposed to be a looooot weaker...otherwise what is the point of it being replaced? If they can break through shit, then just create a swarm of facehuggers n you can literally Zerg down everything...its more cost-effective..will require a lot less minerals n vespene gas..

In the laboratory the facehuggers were stuck in the glas containers, where they were studied by the colonists, and then later by Bishop n the Marines... Those facehuggers were -inside- the fort with the marines the whole time, never breaking out on their own

This is supposed to be a horror movie, and instead it instead felt like a horror comedy, monsters storming en masse is something you see in b-movies... instead it should be less is more for quality horror movies...otherwise it comes off as some guilty-pleasure b-movie...

The more I thought about it...it felt like a scene from horror-comedy movies like Arachnophobia, or Eight-legged-freaks...

This is what I was afraid of when they announced a horror director, that it would land in tropes.. in horror-comedies you get teens that screech and GIGGLE...I don't want anyone to giggle during an Alien movie...


*I got a bad feeling about this drop!* (if somebody doesn't get that reference, u should feel bad)

[Milchshake]

The new trailer constantly re-using the annoying scream/siren sound effect from Prometheus ... off to a terrible start.

It's like the producer/driectlygetting in your face, "Are YOu scArEd YeT!!!" Ridley indulging his worst late-career indulgences:
Not trusting his audience, ya know to be scared in a horror movie.
Not getting what made the face hugger scary in the first place. He foreshadowed this in Prometheus, by just making the thing go full hulk mode. In covenant it was reduced to a very obvious spore. But surprise it bursts from the back!
Now they're turbo facehuggers. With full frame and lighting! Ugh....

Starting to think Dan O'Bannon and Walter Hill just dont get enough credit for the first Alien film.

[Ihavewaffles]

It does feel a bit like a first-person-shooter...n that woman blowing her lock away, was I supposed to laugh? Movie speaking to the audience "no tis not ripley"