“In space no can hear you scream,” but in a packed theater everyone can. Alien movies have made audiences do just that since Ridley Scott first brought a Xenomorph to the big screen in 1979. Now the iconic monster is set to return to theaters once again. While Noah Hawley is developing an Alien TV show, a new installment in the film franchise will premiere in 2024. Who will direct space’s most fearsome creature next? And how does this entry fit into series?
Recently, star Cailee Spaeny revealed more about where exactly Alien: Romulus sits in the franchise’s timeline. She noted to Variety, “It’s supposed to slot in between the first movie and the second movie… 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.”
This means that Romulus occurs between 1979’s Ridley Scott-directed Alien and James Cameron’s 1986 movie Aliens. There’s no word, however, how closely this movie will interact with elements of either one of the existing movies. Still, it seems like a great place to set a new Alien film. This placement leaves room for Alien: Romulus to reference events that already happened on the franchise’s timeline and to allude to things that viewers know are to come. We also love hearing that plenty of xenomorph fun is on the way.
Here’s everything we know about Alien: Romulus so far.
Title
The ninth movie in the franchise is currently called Alien: Romulus. It’s unknown if that working title will ultimately be the film’s final one.
Alien: Romulus‘ Plot
The film does not have an official plot yet, but it’s described as an “original stand-alone” entry unconnected to previous films. It 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.” Most recently we learned that Romulus is set between Alien and Aliens on the franchise’s timeline.
When the movie was originally intended to debut on Hulu, it was compared in scope to the original film in the franchise. For those trying to decipher any meaning from the film’s title, Romulus was the legendary founder of Rome and its first king.
Behind the Scenes
Director Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe, 2013’s Evil Dead) co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues. Ridley Scott is an executive producer on the film. Álvarez told Scott about his idea for the spinoff movie years prior, and Scott eventually reached out and asked Álvarez if he wanted to make it.
In early July 2023 the director announced on Instrgram the end of filming after nearly four months of shooting primarily in Budapest. His celebratory post would have made Red Auerbach proud.
Alien: Romulus‘ Cast
Alien: Romulus stars Cailee Spaeny (Mare of Easttown). Joining her in the young cast are David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
Alien: Romulus‘ Release Date
Alien: Romulus will arrive in theaters on August 16, 2024.
The thin, warm summer air will help anyone in space hear audiences scream.
Originally published on August 9, 2023.
