What’s best for fictional characters is not always what’s best for real people. For example, if you live in a futuristic sci-fi world capable of interstellar travel to other worlds, you should do everything you can to avoid Xenomorphs. That’s just good, solid, life-saving advice. But if you’re an actual human on this planet? Obviously you should run to see those space monsters every chance you get. And this month you’re going to get an incredible chance to see the original one. Alien, Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece that launched the enduring horror franchise, is returning to the big screen ahead of Alien: Romulus‘ premiere.
This summer on August 16 director Fede Álvarez is going old school with a throwback Alien-style film. Romulus‘ first trailer evokes Scott’s original entry in the series in the best way. Álvarez’s story also takes place between the events of Alien and James Cameron’s sequel Aliens, so it’s only fitting 20th Century Studios is going to let fans both old and new see Alien in theaters before Romulus debuts.
Tickets for Alien‘s theatrical return are now sale. Ripley and the Nostromo will sail back to the big screen when Alien returns to theaters starting on April 26. The facehuggers will already be there. They’re always there.
This news is a great sign for fans. It likely indicates the studio believes they have a winner on its hands with Alien: Romulus and want to make sure as many people as possible see it. Re-releasing Alien before Romulus is the best way to do that. Even great legacy sequels, like Blade Runner 2049, sometimes disappoint at the box office because younger moviegoers never saw the original. Now they’ll have a chance to see Romulus‘ predecessor the best way possible: on the biggest screen.
And as real humans on this planet they should definitely take that opportunity. The only people who should avoid Xenomorphs are fictional.
Originally published on April 4, 2024.