Alien: Romulusadded some fascinatingnew details to theAlienfranchise’s wider lore, but one of its more subtle reveals concerned Ridley Scott’s divisive 2012 addition,Prometheus. As an indirect setup for the events depicted inAlien,Prometheuswas perhaps more subtle in its world-building than many more traditional prequels. The film was full of indirect references and allusions, both to the wider story and the film’s own message and meaning – some elements of which are only becoming clear 12 years on.
WhileAlien: Romulusis set betweenAlienandAliensin the timeline,Prometheustakes place much earlier. The story concerns an ill-fated mission (funded by the nefarious Weyland-Yutani company) to discover humanity’s creators – an alien race known as “Engineers” who turn out to be the same creatures as the mysterious space jockey fromAlien.The name “Prometheus” comes from the vessel used to transport the expeditionand has deep classical connotations. However, the real meaning behind both the ship and the movie’s title is revealed by a subtle line in Fede Álvarez’sAlien: Romulus.
Romulus' ‘Prometheus Fire’ Line Reveals The Real Meaning Of The Prequel Title
It’s About More Than Creation
While explaining the experiments on boardAlien: Romulus' Renaissance space station,Rook describes the mysterious compound Z-01 – designed to perfect humanity – as “Prometheus fire”. On one level, this is an obviousEaster egg, contextualizingRomulusas part of a broader franchiseand emphasizing the previous film’s importance. Beyond this, however, this seemingly throwaway remark simultaneously confirmsPrometheus' true meaning and cements a key theme that runs throughout the saga.
There are many versions of the Greek myth that givesPrometheusits name. In most, Prometheus was a Titan who helped mold humanity out of clay – having a direct hand in its creation. This has a clear connection to the movie’s plot, which is all about searching for the alien race that engineered us. However, the second aspect of the classical story is thatPrometheus stole fire from the gods of Mount Olympus, giving it to humans to use as a tool. For this, he was punished by being chained to a rock and having an eagle peck out his liver, which would regenerate daily.
…thanks to this line,Prometheus' title now clearly hammers home a message that theAlienmovies have revisited time and again…
The reference to “Prometheus fire” inAlien: Romulusgives a whole new meaning to the 2012 movie. Beyond being an oblique tie-in,it positionsPrometheusas the movie that first establishes one of the driving themes of the whole series– that humanity sees forces beyond their control as a tool to be used, rather than something to be respected. It may be understated, but thanks to this line,Prometheus' title now clearly hammers home a message that theAlienmovies have revisited time and again – specifically with the role of the Weyland-Yutani company.
Prometheus Established Weyland-Yutani’s Attitude Throughout The Series
They See The Alien As Something To Be Used
The driving force behind almost everyAlienfilm is the conflict between characters who understand the xenomorph threat and the company that wants to exploit it. In almost every story,Weyland-Yutani is determined to harness an untameable force of nature– whether for study, military research, or something as inherently sinister asAlien: Romulustransmutative Z-01 formula. It’s a plot device that allows the series to make a broader satirical commentary on our own contemporary attitude to natural resources and power we can’t control.
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Rook referencing Z-01 as “Prometheusfire” neatly encapsulates this entire outlook. It demonstrated the rapacious way in which the company views the alien, only thinking about what can be gained rather than what might be at risk. It also confirms thatPrometheuswas addressing exactly the same things 12 years earlier. While many aspects of the prequel movie proved divisive, in this thematic concern at least it ranks as a consistent part of the franchise.
Rook’s ‘Fire’ Reference Is A Subtle Callback To Another Prometheus Line
It Speaks To The Same Theme
The “Prometheus fire” reference is a clear recognition of the importance of Ridley Scott’s prequel. It is just one example of howAlien: Romulusdemonstrates its awareness of its place within the widerAlienseries, taking great care to acknowledge every movie that came before with a succession of Easter eggs. However, in an indication of the cyclical nature of theAlienseries and how each film addresses similar issues, it also echoes one of the most memorable quotes fromPrometheus.
When investigatingthe strange “black goo” from the Engineer ship, David places a dot on his finger and declares, “big things have small beginnings.” This line is heavy with the resonance of the Prometheus myth, which is about the birth of civilization coming as a result of the Titan’s gift of fire. However, it also shows the opposite side of the coin to the series' warnings about the dangers of unknown forces. It shows that one of humanity’s strengths is approaching everything with a sense of possibility and potential. It is this tension that continues to make movies likeAlien: Romulusso interesting.
