The recent announcement of the film "Alien: Romulus" has reignited discussions surrounding its connections to Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," a film often overlooked within the broader Alien franchise. Directed by Fede Álvarez, "Romulus" promises to explore themes of existential dread and humanity’s relationship with creation—central motifs that were initially introduced in "Prometheus." By examining these thematic undercurrents, one can discern how Álvarez's upcoming project may serve as a bridge between the philosophical inquiries posed in "Prometheus" and the traditional horror elements characteristic of earlier Alien films.
In "Prometheus," Scott delves into humanity’s quest for knowledge and the implications of playing god through advanced technology. The narrative centers on a team seeking answers about human origins, only to confront horrifying consequences. Similarly, early reports about "Alien: Romulus" suggest that it will explore the aftermath of mankind's desire to manipulate biological entities. This thematic continuity implies that Álvarez may not only pay homage to Scott’s vision but also expand upon it, potentially offering new insights into humanity's hubris in relation to alien life forms.
Romulus follows a small crew led by Rain (played by Civil War’s Cailee Spaeny), who come face-to-face with a terrifying life-form while scavenging a derelict space station.
Released on Friday (16 August), the film is the seventh entry in the 45-year-old Alien franchise, which began in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic.
Towards the end of Romulus, the pregnant Kay (played by Isabela Merced) uses liquid extracted from a Xenomorph (the main species of antagonist in the franchise) to heal her injuries, but the move ends up accelerating the birth of her baby, a human-alien hybrid. Scott’s prequels also featured the ominous black substance, from which other species are formed in both Prometheus and its 2017 follow-up Alien: Covenant.
This increased interest in Alien: Isolation may be due to the recently released Alien: Romulus. The newest addition to the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus has been a hit among fans, hauling in major box office earnings and receiving praise from critics and audiences alike. The buzz around the movie seems to be spilling into other aspects of the Alien franchise, possibly leading to the increase in player count for Alien: Isolation.
“The movie is set up in a way [that] every time something bad is about to happen, you will see a phone,” the Romulus director and co-writer says with a grin when we meet in London. “In the game, every time you knew there’s a phone you’d go, ‘ I’m about to go into some bad set-piece.’ It’s the same thing here. You’ll see they’re planted strategically throughout the film. When you see the phone, it’s like: brace for impact.”
Alien: Romulus releases in cinemas across the UK and Ireland, and in US theaters, from August 16. Listen to our full interview with Fede Alvarez on the Inside Total Film podcast, out later this week.
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