Alien: Romulusis almost upon us, and directorFede Álvarezis sharing some advice he got fromRidley Scottbefore the cameras on his new movie began rolling. Scott directed the first movie in theAlienfranchise back in 1979, and would return in 2012 to helmPrometheus, and again in 2017 forAlien: Covenant. Serving as a producer on the latest entry, Scott worked closely with Álvarez to help the director bring his vision to life in what is expected to be a terrifying new addition tothe long-running franchisethat has thus far spawned seven movies, and two spin-off films.
Taking toInstagramahead ofRomulus’ North American premiere this weekend, Álvarez shared a picture of a printed note that he received from Scott on the same day principal photography began on his movie.“The day I started shooting #AlienRomulus I’ve got this note from the master himself,“the caption reads. Scott’s advice was simple:Don’t f*ck up. Check out the photo below.
Álvarez’s film marks the first in the franchise in seven years, and is set between the events depicted inAlienandAliens, both of which premiered in 1979 and 1986 respectively. He is the seventh director to tackle the series alongside not only the likes of Scott, but James Cameron, David Fincher and Paul W.S. Anderson, to name a few. While the series took a sharp turn in 2012 to delve deep into themes of creation, birth, and death inPrometheus, Álvarez has promised that his movie will take the franchiseback to its horror roots, something longtime fans have been clamoring for.
Ridley Scott Has Already Seen Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots. While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Originally scheduled to be a Hulu original movie much like the latest entry in thePredatorfranchise was back in 2022,Romuluswas switched to a theatrical release at the last minute. While no specific reason was given for the change, it’s thought thatbecausePreydid so well on streaming, Disney was willing to giveRomulusa chance in theaters. The gamble could pay off, as Álvarez’s film is expected to gross around $50 million in its opening weekend, which would be $10 million more thanCovenantgrossed in 2017.
As the rest of us await its premiere, it turns out that Scott has already seen the new movie, with Álvarez revealing that he has given it his seal of approval, something theEvil Deaddirector was holding his breath for. In late 2023, Álvarez spoke with Guillermo del Toro at the DGA Latino Summit 2023, saying that Scott had seen a cut of the film, telling him afterward,“Fede, what can I say? It’s f*cking great.”
The Dark Reason Why the Cast of Alien: Romulus Is So Young
Fede Álvarez had a clear goal in mind when crafting the latest Alien movie, and it’s one he’s hoping will resonate with audiences.
That’s certainly high praise, and bodes well for the release ofRomulusthis weekend. With Scott giving it two thumbs up, there’s a good chance the rest of us will, too, which will hopefully lead to more entries down the line from other directors that will blend mythology and horror to carry the franchise long into the future.
Alien: Romulusopens nationwide on August 16 from 20th Century Studios, and you’re able to check out the trailer below.
