Fede ?lvarez's latest entry in the storied Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus, was a runaway hit both with critics and at the box office, and the latest update about a potential sequel should be an encouraging sign for franchise fans. The seventh film in the Alien franchise met the lofty expectations of fans with a gripping, well-paced story that introduced new elements to the franchise while still remaining deferential to its iconic origins. As a result, the shocking ending to Alien: Romulus effectively reignited interest in the franchise after a series of relatively disappointing sequels.
With that much success, it's only natural that the overarching discussion around the movie turned toward a sequel, especially with a TV show set in the Alien universe on the way. Director Fede ?lvarez has already opined about an Alien: Romulus follow up, and fortunately for Alien fans, it appears that he has the right idea about how the franchise needs to progress. Assuming ?lvarez returns for the next chapter, his approach proves that the franchise is taking the right approach in order to replicate or improve upon the success of Alien: Romulus.
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Fede Álvarez Is Right To Be Cautious About An Alien: Romulus Sequel
Taking Time To Get The Story Right Will Be Key To Its Success
Fede ?lvarez is being cautious about an Alien: Romulus sequel, which is the correct approach to take after several underwhelming sequels in a row. There is plenty of interest in a sequel, to be clear; both the studio and ?lvarez himself have expressed interest in a sequel to the 2024 hit. However, ?lvarez's main point of apprehension is, justifiably, about making sure that the story is worthy of making a movie. Per Gizmodo:
So that¡¯s the process we are in right now, trying to find a story that is worthy of everyone¡¯s time and is worthy of the title. Otherwise, you never want to fall into the mistake of making [a sequel] just because the first one is a big hit ¡ [making a sequel] just because you can make it, that¡¯s always a recipe for disaster.
Part of what made Alien: Romulus so great was that it was a simple yet engaging story, which is something that previous sequels have struggled with. Both Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, the previous two entries in the Alien franchise, had different story problems. While Prometheus opened a lot of interesting narrative doors, many found its many unanswered questions frustrating, while Covenant was maligned for being a retread of past franchise elements with essentially nothing new. ?lvarez taking his time to make sure the story is correct is his best shot at replicating Alien: Romulus' success with a sequel.
Where An Alien: Romulus Sequel Could Take The Franchise
Álvarez Has Already Hinted At A General Direction
20th Century Studios has already begun planning for a sequel, with the hope being that ?lvarez will indeed return to helm another chapter. Studio exec Steve Asbell noted in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, there is interest in seeing the two standout characters from Alien: Romulus, Cailee Spaeny's Rain and David Jonsson's android Andy, return in a sequel. The follow-up could certainly focus on what happens next with the two characters, who were the only survivors of the events on board the Renaissance, after they wake up from the cryostasis they were in at the movie's end.
Alien Franchise - Key Details | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movie | Release Date | Director | Budget | Box Office Gross | RT Tomatometer Score | RT Popcornmeter Score |
Alien | 1979 | Ridley Scott | $11 million | $187 million | 93% | 94% |
Aliens | 1986 | James Cameron | $18.5 million | $131-$185 million | 94% | 94% |
Alien 3 | 1992 | David Fincher | $50-$60 million | $159.8 million | 44% | 46% |
Alien Resurrection | 1997 | Jean-Pierre Jeunet | $70 million | $161.4 million | 55% | 39% |
Prometheus | 2012 | Ridley Scott | $120-$130 million | $403.4 millon | 73% | 68% |
Alien: Covenant | 2017 | Ridley Scott | $97-$111 million | $240.9 million | 65% | 55% |
Alien: Romulus | 2024 | Fede ?lvarez | $80 million | $350.9 million | 80% | 85% |
Alien: Romulus also took a new step in the franchise with the introduction of The Offspring, the unsettling mutant-hybrid creature that acted as the final threat aboard the Romulus module. One of the best ways to keep an Alien: Romulus sequel interesting would be to further explore the implications of a hybrid creature like The Offspring, even though Rain managed to kill the one she encountered. Another path could be to introduce another new monster to complement the typical Xenomorph threats, as The Offspring was a highlight of Alien: Romulus.
Alien: Romulus Is Now The Franchise's Best Future, Even If Ridley Scott Returns
Its Strong Characters And Deference To The Original Led To A Revitalized Interest In The Franchise
The new path introduced by Alien: Romulus is definitely the best route forward for the franchise, regardless of who directs the next movie. While there was some trepidation in ?lvarez taking over the franchise after its originator, Ridley Scott, directed the previous two installments, ?lvarez clearly proved that he's capable of preserving what makes the franchise great while bringing something fresh to the table. While the studio is obviously interested in bringing back ?lvarez, whether he returns or not shouldn't play a role in how the sequel unfolds.
Alien: Romulus was the shot in the arm that the franchise needed, and the fact that a sequel isn't being rushed out bodes extremely well for the franchise's overall future.
The new creature, the return to the franchise's claustrophobic horror roots, and the revitalized public interest in the franchise all justify keeping the ball rolling with the plot and timeline introduced in Alien: Romulus. The movie also introduced a pair of viable new series leads in Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, which could fill a void that has never really been filled since Sigourney Weaver left the franchise. Alien: Romulus was the shot in the arm that the franchise needed, and the fact that a sequel isn't being rushed out bodes extremely well for the franchise's overall future.
Source: Gizmodo, The Hollywood Reporter
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Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
