Key Takeaways
- Director Fede Álvarez wants an Alien: Romulus sequel but won’t rush the story.
- Alien: Romulus received critical acclaim but also faced criticism for nostalgic elements.
- Fans want an Alien: Romulus sequel.
An Alien: Romulus sequel became highly-demanded almost as soon as the new film was released. Director Fede Álvarez wants to make an Alien: Romulus sequel, but he explained why they aren’t going to rush it.
Alien: Romulus was released to box office success and critical acclaim. While some criticized Alien: Romulus for overusing easter eggs and references to the franchise’s past for nostalgic purposes, the film was widely praised for the performances of lead stars Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson. Some even argued it was the best Alien film since the first two. Naturally, fans want the franchise to build on Alien: Romulus‘ success and Álvarez provided an update on where everyone stands on a sequel.
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During an interview with i09, Álvarez reiterated 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell’s comments about Álvarez working on Alien: Romulus sequel ideas. However, Álvarez said they won’t move forward with a sequel until they have a story worth telling. Álvarez explained that if they simply make an Alien: Romulus sequel just because the first was a hit, it will lead to disaster:
Well, I mean, we definitely want to do it. The studio wants to do it. I want to do it. I think with sequels, it’s always about finding the right story. Me and Rodo [Sayagues], my co-writer, we have some ideas, but it’s not until we find something that we go “Ok,
that
is a movie worth making” that we really embark on it. 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.
Álvarez’s concerns are not unfounded. Rushed sequels have rarely if ever worked out. Ridley Scott’s Alien was followed by James Cameron’s Aliens, a rare sequel that was well-regarded as its predecessor, if not more. Unfortunately, the Alien franchise has had mixed results since then. While most fans were thrilled with Álvarez’s entry into the franchise, many still want an Alien: Romulus sequel to avoid repeating the film series’ past mistakes.
Alien: Romulus has an obvious prequel idea. The film is primarily set in an abandoned research station called Renaissance, where the main characters discover everyone on its crew is either missing or dead. The Xenomorph that was captured by the Renaissance wreaked havoc on the vessel before Romulus begins, and some fans would like to see that story unfold on screen.
However, Álvarez and Asbell’s comments indicate they want to continue the Alien: Romulus storyline, with hopes of Spaeny and Jonsson reprising their roles. Of course, there’s no reason multiple Alien storylines can be told. Studios are all about building a shared universe, so it wouldn’t be out of the question for 20th Century Studios to produce several Alien films from different points in the franchise’s timeline. Whether that’s a good thing is debatable, as even the MCU, the most successful shared universe franchise in Hollywood, is having difficulty maintaining quality. Still, fans want an Alien: Romulus sequel, and it sounds like everyone involved in the first film wants to deliver one.
Alien: Romulus is available on Disney Plus
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.
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Source: i09