Summary
While I’m excited about director and co-writer Fede Álvarez’sAlien: Romulus, I can’t help but think about the unmade sequel to a divisive entry in the storied sci-fi horror franchise. The seventh installment in theAlienmovie series,Alien: Romuluspromises to be a pretty fresh takeon the well-worn genre. What excites me most is the way it seems to blend elements from Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic with slasher films — a mix made possible, in part, byAlien: Romulus' castof mostly teenage characters. A standalone interquel,Alien: RomulusbridgesAlienand 1986’sAliens.
The movie centers on a group of space colonists who are led by Rain Carradine (Civil War’s Cailee Spaeny). While scavenging a seemingly derelict space station, the crew stumbles upon space’s most terrifying life form: theAlienfranchise’s iconic Xenomorph. I’m not sure howAlien: Romuluswill impact the series' lore, but its very existence — another canonical entry in the ever-growing series — definitely complicatesScott’s unfinishedAlienprequel trilogy, which began in 2012 with the ambitious-yet-flawedPrometheus. AnotherAlienprequel seems less likely now, but I can’t be the only one waiting for some resolution.
Alien: Romulus Happened Before Ridley Scott’s Planned Alien: Covenant Sequel
Romulus Complicates The Alien Franchise’s Timeline
With the arrival ofRomulus, thecompleteAlientimelinecontinues to grow — and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see the iconic franchise reappear in today’s cinematic landscape. At the same time,the fact thatAlien: Romulushas come to fruition before a third prequel movie seems like a bad signfor Ridley Scott’s planned pre-Alientrilogy. While the originalAlienintroduced audiences to Sigourney Weaver’s action hero Ellen Ripley,Prometheus, co-written by Jon Spaihts (Dune) and Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers), centers on Noomi Rapace’s god-fearing archaeologist, Elizabeth Shaw, and Michael Fassbender’s android, David.
…I can understand why Alien: Romulus got the green light before an Alien: Covenant sequel.
While I wouldn’t count Shaw or David among Ripley-level movie characters, I admire the 2012 film’s ambition — its big ideas, impressive scope, and more cerebral approach.Prometheusfollows the crew of the titular spaceship as they follow a star map along a course that, allegedly, will help them understand the origins of humanity. Its sequel, 2017’sAlien: Covenant, centers on Davidonce again. However, to my frustration,Covenantcan’t seem to balance the cerebralPrometheusthreads withAlien’s deep-space horror beats. That said, I can understand whyRomulusgot the green light before anAlien: Covenantsequel.
Which Movies You Should Watch Before Alien: Romulus (& Which You Can Skip)
Alien: Romulus is the ninth installment in the franchise, but its place in the timeline means that not every other movie has to be watched beforehand.
What’s Going On With Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant Sequel
Ridley Scott’s Canceled Covenant Sequel, Explained
Back in September 2015, Scott mentioned that he had at least twoPrometheussequels in mind — and maybe even a fourth prequel — that would lead directly into the events of his originalAlienmovie. In fact, it was reported that thescreenplay forAlien: Covenant’s sequelhad been finished in 2017. With mixed reviews and a disappointing box office,Alien: Covenant’s numbers pushed 20th Century Fox to delay the third prequel film’s production, which had been slated for 2018. Keeping my hope alive, Scott has continued to talk about his plans for an AI-focusedAlien: Covenant 2.
Given Disney’s love of milking nostalgic IP for all it’s worth, this move is somewhat surprising.
All of this said, I think things took a real turn for the worst when Disney acquired 21st Century Fox. While the acquisition prompted rumors of a Scott-helmed prequel to start up again, nothing ever came of it. WhenAlien: Romuluswas officially announced, it felt to me likeDisney was quietly putting Ridley Scott’sAlienprequel trilogy out to pasture. Given Disney’s love of milking nostalgic IP for all it’s worth, this move is somewhat surprising. Of course, I think it’s possibleAlien: Romulus' performance could revive what, for now, seems to beRidley Scott’s canceledCovenantsequel.
Predicting Who Lives In Alien: Romulus After So Many Character Death Teases
The trailers for Alien: Romulus have already hinted at several potential deaths, and these characters may be next on the chopping block.
I’ll Be Disappointed If The Alien Franchise Never Finishes Ridley Scott’s Prequel Trilogy
The Alien Franchise Could Still Find A Way To Conclude The Prometheus & Covenant Stories
Watching theAlienmovies in orderwon’t quite hit if Ridley Scott never finishes his planned prequel trilogy. David’s actions inAlien: Covenant’s endingleave the prequel duology on a decidedly unresolved note. For the most part,theAlienfilms can be watched as standalone entries, but I enjoy the connective tissueand world-building that each movie brings to the table. For now, I’m holding out hope thatAlien: Romulusreinvigorates the franchise enough to push the plannedAlien: Covenantsequel through. Plus, Ridley Scott’s upcoming blockbusterGladiator 2might be enough to convince studio execs of his box office draw.
Alien: Romulusdebuts in theaters on June 15, 2025;Alien: Covenantis streaming on Hulu.
Alien: Romulus
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.
