What do fictional characters in Alien movies have in common with moviegoers? That’s obvious: they both run when a Xenomorph shows up. The difference is those in the film run away from the iconic space monster while viewers run towards theaters. And the fantastic, intense first teaser trailer for Alien: Romulus shows why that will still be true for the franchise’s ninth big screen installment.
….Hell yeah. And to think, this was originally going to be a Hulu-only release. We certainly can’t imagine that would do it any justice after seeing ths Alien: Romulus trailer. Fortunately, Disney realized this deserves the biggest screen possible.
This new standalone entry, which the studio describes as a throwback that returns to the Alien franchise to its “roots,” stars Priscilla‘s Cailee Spaeny. It also features David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. Alien: Romulus comes from director Fede Álvarez. He co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues, whose other credits also include Alvarez’s Don’t Breathe and 2013’s Evil Dead.
Ridley Scott, who serves as an executive producer on the film, more than gave Alien: Romulus his blessing. It probably wouldn’t have happened without him. Álvarez told Scott about his idea for the spinoff years ago. Scott later called him and asked if Álvarez was up for actually making it.
But what exactly is going on in this story, which is set in the time period between Alien and Aliens? The trailer gives us some idea, but here’s Alien: Romulus‘ official (but brief) synopsis from 20th Century Studios:
While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
This Alien: Romulus trailer alone makes us very happy that Scott and Álvarez met and that Álvarez said yes, but we still want to see the whole movie. We’ll be able to do that when space’s greatest monster goes on the attack once more this summer. Alien: Romulus releases on August 16, 2024.
