Both Alien: Romulus and FX’s TV show promise to be hugely exciting additions to the Alien franchise, but one upcoming project is slightly more promising than the other. Despite cementing its status in the cultural lexicon, Alien has arguably struggled to live up to its potential following its stellar first two installments. Controversial series entries like Ridley Scott’s prequels and the Alien vs. Predator spinoffs have had a mixed reception, while the final two movies in the original quadrilogy also marked a drop in quality. Nevertheless, despite these setbacks, any new Alien project is always highly anticipated.
Although both projects revolve around the iconic xenomorph, Alien: Romulus and FX’s Alien take very different approaches to the subject. Directed by Fede Álvarez, Alien: Romulus is described as an “original stand-alone” entry in the series, according to the studio’s official synopsis. Set between the events of Alien and Aliens, the movie stars Cailee Spaeny as a new protagonist. FX’s Alien will air in 2025 and will be set on Earth – unlike Álvarez’s interplanetary plot. Both releases will introduce new elements to the iconic franchise, and therefore have much to recommend them to Alien fans new and old.
Alien FX Show Has Ridley Scott’s Involvement
No one knows Alien better
A big plus for fans of franchise continuity is the direct involvement of the legendary director of the first Alien movie and its prequels, Ridley Scott. Alien showrunner Noah Hawley has confirmed that, while Scott has little direct oversight over the project, he has been a constant source of guidance and advice. As Hawley told THR:
“I mean, are the Coens involved in
Fargo
? Let’s just say, I’ve probably had more conversations with Ridley than I’ve had with Joel and Ethan. Scott Free [Productions] is producing
Alien
and Ridley is making two or three movies a year is basically how that’s working.“I mean, Ridley has been an amazing collaborator to the degree that I can pick his brain about all of his thoughts, processes, decisions and the things that he’s learned. And I try to keep him [in the loop] and send him material so that he feels respected and included. But also, he’s doing his thing.”
The fact that Hawley has been able to lean on Scott for creative inspiration is significant for FX’s Alien. While many of Scott’s decisions in prequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant caused controversy, he is still responsible for creating the movie that made Alien iconic in the first place. Alien remains a core part of his DNA, and his appreciation for its legacy is unparalleled. The fact that Hawley has been so keen to involve Scott so extensively suggests that FX’s Alien is determined to respect the history of the franchise, rather than cynically using its notorious monster as a cash-cow.
Alien: Romulus Is A Standalone Project
It’s a fresh start for the franchise
As Alien: Romulus‘ distinctive title implies, Álvarez’s movie looks set to be a new beginning for the Alien franchise after decades of mediocrity and false dawns. The movie has been unequivocally described as a standalone project, emphasizing how removed it is from the muddled lore of Scott’s prequels. This means that, for the first time in decades, fans will be able to simply enjoy an Alien story on its own merits, without worrying about how it ties into the wider saga or whether it answers any lingering Alien mysteries.
Although all Alien movies post-Aliens have their merits (with the debatable exception of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem), Scott’s prequels inadvertently created more problems than they solved. In explicitly setting out to solve riddles like the identity of the “space jockey” and where exactly the xenomorphs came from, the films had profound and complicated implications for the whole Alien saga – many of which make little to no narrative sense. In ignoring these tangents and telling a completely original story, Alien: Romulus can set the franchise back on track.
Alien Movies In Order (Release & Chronological)
From Ridley Scott’s Alien to the sci-fi franchise’s prequel series beginning with Prometheus, here’s how to watch the Alien movies in order.
FX’s Show Understands What Makes Alien Great
It will feel like Alien again
While Ridley Scott appeared to become overwhelmed by the unwieldiness of his plans for Alien‘s lore, FX Alien‘s showrunner Noah Hawley appears to have already identified the key elements needed to make the show succeed. Principally, he’s made it clear that the show’s tie-ins to Prometheus and Covenant‘s explanation for the creature itself will be minimal. As Hawley told KCRW’s The Business podcast:
“Ridley and I have talked about this — and many, many elements of the show. For me, and for a lot of people, this ‘perfect life form’ — as it was described in the first film — is the product of millions of years of evolution that created this creature that may have existed for a million years out there in space. The idea that, on some level, it was a bioweapon created half an hour ago, that’s just inherently less useful to me.”
Furthermore, Hawley has confirmed that he will return to the distinctive aesthetic of the first Alien movie which played such a crucial role in helping the film stand out. Both these decisions demonstrate that Hawley understands what made Alien great to begin with. From his comments, it’s clear that the mystery of the monster and highly influential design of the original movie will remain intact. In mirroring Scott’s 1979 masterpiece rather than his flawed follow-ups, Hawley and FX have given themselves the best possible chance of success.
Alien: Romulus Is Returning To Alien’s Roots
It’s what the franchise needs
On one level, Alien: Romulus‘ synopsis of “a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe” could feel somewhat derivative. After all, Alien is hardly the only science fiction franchise that features a similar premise. And yet, despite its apparently simplistic approach, Roumulus‘ set-up is exactly what the franchise needs after the complexity of the past few decades.
The original film thrived thanks to its ability to take a straightforward, timeless tale and inject it with unforgettable artistic beauty and nightmare-inducing horror. The best Alien movies have always used the power of mythology and social commentary to enhance the action on screen, rather than becoming bogged down in lore. The mundane conversations of the Nostromo’s crew and oblique critique of Weyland Yutani’s corporatism in Aliens are subliminally infused without detracting from the terror. In returning to the original premise of “crew meets scary monster“, Alien: Romulus can once again allow those bigger ideas to subtly work in the background.
Alien: The Differences Between Theatrical & Director’s Cut
Ridley Scott’s Alien director’s cut adds a few subtle differences to the 1979 sci-fi/horror classic without changing it all that much.
Alien Show Has Never Been Done
It could be a great direction for the franchise
Although Alien: Romulus‘ approach promises a welcome return to what made Alien great, Noah Hawley’s serialized story represents something genuinely new for the franchise. The longer format will finally allow background elements to be fully fleshed out, potentially making Alien even richer in the process. Considering the depth of Alien‘s lore, the lack of restrictions in a TV format is a potential game-changer.
There are risks with the Alien TV show’s elongated approach. For starters, indulging in extensive exposition may risk repeating the biggest problems with Ridley Scott’s prequel movies, adding even more elements to an already muddled mythology. However, as something genuinely new for the franchise, FX’s Alien is undeniably intriguing by its nature.
Winner: Alien: Romulus Is More Exciting Than FX’s Alien
It’s the fresh start the franchise needs
While aspects of FX’s Alien‘s lore changes and format make the show a thrilling prospect, Alien: Romulus‘ explicit status as a fresh start for the series makes it the more exciting addition. Despite Hawley’s comments, the extent of Scott’s involvement in the series is a potential worry, given the problems caused by both Prometheus and Covenant.Romulus, by contrast, is a clean break. Although Scott is still attached as a producer, the movie is unequivocally Álvarez’s story, with all the signs pointing towards a streamlined, no-frills thriller. This simplicity captures the essence of what Alien should be.
A respectful TV show building on elements that made the franchise so revered is still great news for Alien buffs. However, there is a justifiable sense that Alien has unfinished business on the big screen. If Álvarez can successfully juggle the need for scares, depth, and legacy building in an original setting, the Alien franchise could finally have what has been missing since 1986 – a truly great cinematic addition to the saga.
Alien (1979)
- Release Date
- June 22, 1979
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Cast
- Sigourney Weaver , Ian Holm , John Hurt , Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , Tom Skerritt , Yaphet Kotto
- Runtime
- 117 minutes
– signalled as a fresh start for the franchise, Alien belongs on the big screen. The Alien TV show is a really exciting development, but the format naturally lands itself to lore expansion/greater exposition etc. Romulus will be a streamlined, no frills thriller – what Alien should be
