The much-awaited science fiction – with a promise of delivering the best of both worlds on the horizon – might just end up outshining Hollywood’s treasured gems. Or at least that’s what Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez seems to attest to.
The debate about whether or not James Cameron’s gritty sequel to the 1979 Ridley Scott classic takes the cake is a tale as old as time. But it looks like the million-dollar question – Alien or Aliens? – may just come to an end with Alien: Romulus looking to outstrip its Academy award-winning ancestors.
Fede Álvarez Shoots for the Stars With Alien: Romulus
The first thing that Fede Álvarez did after taking charge of the long-standing sci-fi franchise was to reassure fans about the authentic yet synergic angle of his forthcoming sequel. While Alien: Romulus would be a standalone, the acclaimed horror filmmaker enunciated not “omitting” or “ignoring” either of the originals (via The Hollywood Reporter).
However, it appears that the Evil Dead creator has more than just a blend of Alien and Aliens in mind. In a fresh interview with Empire, when asked to choose between Ridley Scott’s galactic horror and James Cameron’s action-infused sequel, Álvarez, 46, refused to play favorites.
“To ask an Alien fan to choose between them is a perverse question. So I thought, ‘How do I do both?”
Looks like someone is reaching for the sky. Or perhaps Álvarez truly does have something astronomical in the store with the upcoming dystopian hybrid of the ’70s and ’80s masterpieces.
Alien: Romulus Director is Loyal to A Fault to the Franchise
The Don’t Breathe director may be looking to attain the impossible, but one thing is certain – his fidelity to the franchise. The steadfast Uruguayan moviemaker revealed to Total Film how he spent hours on call with Cameron, getting the most minuscule details down to a T.
“At the end of the phone call, he thanked us for letting him brainstorm with us, which I found hilarious. I was like, ‘You don’t have to thank us; it’s the best day ever for us!'”
However, while Álvarez wishes to stay faithful to the beloved franchise by tailoring Alien: Romulus as an amalgamation of the originals, it may as well be next to impossible to transcend either Alien or Aliens, let alone both. Both movies have created unshakeable legacies as avant-gardes. In fact, Scott’s seminal film continues to be one of the industry’s most prized possessions (via MovieWeb).
So, surpassing either Alien or Aliens may as well be next to impossible. That’s not to say that Alien: Romulus doesn’t have the potential to excel; Álvarez seems to have worked religiously in perfecting his art, if the trailer is anything to go by. Besides, we’ll soon find out whether the approaching sequel holds a candle to the originals or not.
Alien: Romulus is set to release on August 16, 2024.
