Warning: Major spoilers for Alien: Romulus below!A majorAlien: Romuluseaster egg could be setting up a controversial sequel involving Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley.The box-office success ofAlien: Romulusnot only proves there’s still an audience for the sci-fi saga, but that the latest sequel was right to start essentially from scratch. Instead of paying offCovenant’scliffhanger ending or bringing back a familiar face, the story focused on a new set of characters while expanding on concepts introduced in other entries. This includes the return of the Engineer’s Black Goo, which has the power to alter the DNA of any living being.
Director Fede Alvarez is a noted fanboy of the series, so his film is still laden with easter eggs and nods.A well-hiddenRomuluseaster egg confirms Ripley’s shuttlewas docked at the Renaissance stationin-between the events ofAlienandAliens. This poses many questions, though the film itself doesn’t even try to deal with them. If a direct sequel happens, it will be interesting to see if Alvarez digs into this reveal a little (or a lot) more.
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In contrast to Ridley Scott - who tried to rewriteAlienmovie franchisehistory by havingCovenantclaim that David (Michael Fassbender) created the titular beasts - Alvarez came to the series with respect for the canon. In a June 2024 Q&A (viaFilm Stories),Alvarez revealed he went to great lengths to ensureRomulusdidn’t contradict or ignore even the expanded universeof the saga.
I wouldn’t dare to change anything really. If there’s any changes to things… I even take the novels as canon, and the comics. I always had [Xenopedia] open on my laptop when I was writing.
This suggests Alvarez must be aware ofAlien: Out of the Shadows, a 2014 novel that follows Ripley on another Xeno misadventure. The twist is that it takes place betweenAlienandAlienstoo, andOut of the Shadowsreveals Ripley’s shuttle was redirected to a mining ship three decades after the original film. Not only that, but she discovers that Ash (played by Ian Holm in the 1979 film) uploaded his AI to her shuttle before the Nostromo exploded.
The rogue android has allowed Ripley’s ship to drift in deep space while seeking out more Xenomorphs, and she awakens to a nightmare onboard this ship. In the franchise timeline,Alienis set in 2122,Romulustakes place in 2142 whileOut of the Shadowsoccurs in 2159, meaning Ripley was in cryo for 37 years.Having established that Ripley’s shuttle was docked at the Renaissance, maybe Alvarez is setting up a possibleOut of the Shadowsadaptation, which would allow audiences one final Ripley adventure on the big screen.
Alien: Romulususes the voice and likeness of Ian Holm for new android character, Rook.
Why Out Of The Shadows Was Controversial With Alien Fans
This Alien tie-in resulted in some heated debates
By the very nature of the Out of the Shadows story, readers already know Ripley will be fine, and that the story won’t have any major impact on the sequels that follow.
Out of the Shadowswas penned by Tim Lebbon, and was broadly well-received by critics. In truth, the book doesn’t do much to reinvent franchise formula, but it is a pulpy, entertaining ride. However,the novel became mildly controversial amongAliendevotees for daring to include Ripley at all. It was felt that her inclusion was a cynical ploy and that, with a few changes, she could have been removed entirely and replaced with another protagonist.
By the very nature of theOut of the Shadowsstory, readers already know Ripley will be fine, and that the story won’t have any major impact on the sequels that follow. In the book’s defense, Ripley’s characterization is completely in keeping with Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal, and for those willing to forgive her appearance, it offers a solid survival horror journey. Less successful is the story’s explanation forhowRipley has forgotten about the events on LV-178 whenAliensbegins.
Alien Complete Timeline Explained
From Prometheus to Alien: Romulus to the movies with Ellen Ripley, the complete Alien franchise timeline spans hundreds of years of xenomorphs.
Lebbon does his best to come up with a plausible explanation, but again,the need for Ripley’s memory erasure to happen calls into question the need for her inclusion. Still, if the movies are looking for a way to reintroduce Ripley that doesn’t contradict existing canon,Alien: Out of the Shadowsis a great template to work from.
Would Sigourney Weaver Return For An Alien: Romulus Sequel?
Is Weaver up for one last Ripley adventure?
Once upon a time, Weaver was set to return for a fifthAlienmovie by director Neill Blomkamp, which was rumored to ignore the events of the third and fourth outing. That project was ultimately canceled, and in the years since,Weaver has sounded reluctant to return toAlienagain, feeling that Ripley had earned a break. In an August 2024 interview withDeadline, the star sounded open to the possibility, but only if a good story came around.
How much does the public really need or want another Ripley movie? I don’t really sit around and think about it, but if it came up, I would consider it. It has come up a bunch of times, but I’m also busy doing other things. Ripley has earned her rest.
Out of the Shadowsmay not be the ideal way to bring Weaver back as Ripley either. If she returned, this would require extensive de-aging to make her resemble the Ripley seen inAliens. Despite this tech making leaps and bounds in recent years, even films likeIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyhave had trouble making de-aged actors look seamless to the naked eye. The success ofAlien: Romuluswill almost certainly lead to a new entry in the next few years, but whether Ripley will be involved is a big question mark.
Cast
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
