Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, spawned a sequel, but one element drew widespread criticism: the CGI portrayal of Ian Holm. Holm, famed for his role as Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien, controversially returned via CGI in this "interquel," with the results deemed distracting and unrealistic by many viewers. A popular fan edit even removed his character entirely.
Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, admitting time constraints in post-production hampered the CGI quality. He stated to Empire magazine, “We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. I wasn’t 100% happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention. So, for people that react negatively, I don’t blame them.”
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However, Alvarez championed improvements for the home release, stating, “We fixed it. We made it better for the release right now. I convinced the studio we need to spend the money and make sure we give the companies that were involved in making it the proper time to finish it and do it right. It’s so much better.” The home release utilizes more practical puppetry, reducing CGI reliance.
Despite these improvements, fan reaction remains mixed. While some acknowledge a slight improvement, many still find the portrayal distracting, questioning the necessity of Holm's inclusion. Reddit discussions highlight this continued dissatisfaction. Comments such as "Better, but still awfully uncanny… and for no sound reason," and "Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie…" reflect persistent concerns.
A comparison reveals the home release utilizes tighter framing, showcasing more of the practical puppet and less of the CGI face. Yet, criticism persists, with comments like, "Let's be real, it's still awful and garish to resurrect a dead man so needlessly."
Despite this controversy, Alien: Romulus achieved significant box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is under consideration at 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.
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