Although not a lot is known about the plot of Alien: Romulus, the upcoming Alien movie’s title finally has an in-universe explanation. Throughout the Alien series, the titles of each new outing have grown more inventive. Alien and Aliens were pretty self-explanatory, and Alien 3 didn’t require much interpretation. 1997’s Alien: Resurrection referred to the fact that the franchise’s original heroine Ellen Ripley was revived via cloning after she died in Alien 3, while 2012’s Prometheus was named after the mythic Titan who gifted humanity with fire. This aligned metaphorically with David’s role in the movie.

David and his creator, Weyland Yutani CEO Peter Weyland, gifted (or arguably cursed) humanity with the Xenomorph thanks to their ill-fated mission. The meaning of Alien: Covenant’s title was initially less obvious, but the movie itself revealed that this was the name of the shop that carried the cast to their doom. Rather than leave things ambiguous, 2024’s upcoming reboot Alien: Romulus has already explained the movie’s title in its second trailer. This explanation will soon spawn more questions as Alien: Romulus’ release date nears and the movie’s plot remains unclear.

“Romulus” Is The Name Of A Science Lab In Alien: Romulus

The Lab’s Name Can Be Glimpsed In The Alien: Romulus Trailer

Around 0:52, viewers can see a door labeled “Romulus Lab” in the space station setting of Alien: Romulus. Much like Alien: Covenant was named after its central ship, Romulus and Remus are the names of two modules aboard the Renaissance space station in Alien: Romulus. By the looks of things, experiments took place in this lab and these may have involved Xenomorphs. Considering Alien: Romulus takes place between Alien and Aliens, it is possible that Weyland Yutani could have been experimenting with Xenomorphs that were captured in the aftermath of Ripley’s infamous trip on the Nostromo.

That said, Alien: Romulus’ gruesome chestburster tease seems to imply that the movie’s heroes don’t know anything about the Xenomorphs. If the lab has been experimenting on them, the movie’s heroes haven’t been privy to their findings. This doesn’t necessarily mean much since director Fede Alvarez already revealed that the lead characters of Alien: Romulus would be inexperienced young people who were new to space travel. The fact that the lab’s steel door is emblazoned with “Authorised Personnel Only” means its contents are all the more mysterious. Judging by the trailer, nothing good resides inside.

How Alien’s Romulus Lab Connects To Roman Mythology

Romulus Was The Survivor Of Rome’s Romulus and Remus Myth

Much like Prometheus, Alien: Romulus borrows its name from classical mythology. The story of Romulus and Remus is a mythical tale of Rome’s founder Romulus and his ill-fated brother Remus, who were raised by a wolf. Sons of the god Mars, Romulus, and Remus returned to their birthplace to restore their grandfather Numitor to his throne. When they succeeded, the duo set out to establish a city of their own. An argument ensued and, although the details of the death differ depending on the retelling, Remus was killed while Romulus survived to establish Rome.

Since Alien: Romulus’s android character Andy has been described as a brother to the movie’s heroine Rain, it seems fair to guess that this will play a role in the title’s double meaning. Beyond referring to a literal lab aboard the space station, Alien: Romulus’ title could imply that Rain and Andy’s relationship will be a troubled one, and it may end in tragedy. Considering the Alien franchise’s inconsistent history when it comes to android characters, there is a good chance that Andy could turn out to be a villain much like the original movie’s Ash or Prometheus’s David.

Alien: Romulus’ Title Reveals The Movie’s Real Message Is About Siblings

Rain and Andy’s Relationship May Mirror The Story of Romulus and Remus

While Alien: Romulus’s heartbreaking Andy twist would be a crushing denouement for Alvarez’s movie, it would make sense for the movie’s title. According to interviews with both Alvarez and Rain’s actor Cailee Spaeny, Rain and Andy’s relationship is central to the story of Alien: Romulus. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022, an earlier franchise reboot that Alvarez had a story credit on, also focused on a pair of siblings and their troubled relationship before introducing Leatherface to proceedings.

Before that, Alvarez’s Evil Dead reboot from 2013 centered on a brother whose attempt to help his sister cure a drug addiction in a remote cabin went horribly awry. Alvarez clearly has a knack for exploring sibling relationships in horror movies, so Alien: Romulus returning to this well-worn trope could make sense. Ridley Scott’s other sci-fi franchise Blade Runner is better suited to stories of android/human interactions, but Alien: Romulus could prove just as poignant as the Alien movie is scary if Rain and Andy’s relationship is as tragic as its title suggests.