Alien: Romulus Director Dismisses Rumor of Another Franchise Star’s Return: “Not True At All”

Fede Alvarez, the director behind Alien: Romulus, has put an end to speculation regarding the return of a significant actor from the Alien franchise. Following the film’s modest box office success and its recent Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects, excitement around the series is palpable. Alvarez’s latest installment largely features a fresh cast, including Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu, while paying homage to earlier films.

On social media, Alvarez directly addressed circulating rumors about a beloved character’s return to the franchise. In a tweet, he stated:

Fun gossip. But not true at all.— Fede Alvarez (@fedalvar) January 23, 2025

Implications for the Alien: Romulus Sequel

Ellen Ripley Will Not Appear

Set between the narratives of Alien and Aliens, Alien: Romulus occurs during a time when Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, is indeed alive. Despite this, both Weaver and a stand-in version of Ripley were absent from the movie. Given the announcement of a sequel, many fans speculated on the possibility of her return. However, Alvarez has been firm that this will not materialize.

Nonetheless, this does not imply that the sequel will entirely exclude references to previous films. In Alien: Romulus, viewers meet a synthetic character named Rook, reminiscent of Ian Holm’s Ash from the original series. Although Holm passed away in 2020, the filmmakers utilized AI and CGI techniques to recreate his likeness. While such technology will not be employed to reintroduce Weaver as Ripley in the sequel, there remains potential for revitalizing other characters from the earlier films.

Our Perspective on Ripley’s Absence

The Decision Could Be Beneficial

Overall, eschewing the idea of a de-aged Weaver reprising her role as Ripley may prove to be advantageous for the Alien: Romulus sequel. Bringing Ripley back, even as a brief cameo, risks turning the film into mere fan service, distracting from the film’s new direction. Furthermore, Weaver has recently undergone de-aging effects for her role as Kiri in James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water and the forthcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash. Employing a similar digital technique for the Alien sequel might be met with ridicule.

For ongoing insights, follow Fede Alvarez on social media: Fede Alvarez / Twitter

Source: Screen Rant