Alien: Romulus star Cailee Spaeny has revealed where Fede Álvarez‘s upcoming Alien film fits in the continuity of the long-running sci-fi franchise.
Per Variety, Spaeny remarked on the 20th Century Studios movie’s place in the Alien timeline during the Gotham Awards on November 27. “It’s supposed to slot in between the first movie and the second movie,” she stated. “They brought the same team from Aliens, the James Cameron film. The same people who built those xenomorphs actually came on and built ours.”
Ridley Scott’s first Alien movie, starring Sigourney Weaver as the celebrated hero Ellen Ripley, was released in 1979, while Cameron’s sequel Aliens came out in 1986. Spaeny expressed her excitement at the new installment’s close association with the iconic space horror movie, saying, “So getting to see the original design with the original people who have been working on these films for 45-plus years and has been so much of their life has been really incredible.”
“I love watching those old ‘70s, ‘80s action sci-fi films,” Spaeny shared. “And I’m such a fan of that IP and Sigourney Weaver. It’s legendary to get to be a part of it.”
Who is involved in the story and making of Alien: Romulus?
Alien: Romulus is said to be a “standalone film” and follows new characters without a direct relation to Ripley’s arc. Plot details have been kept under wraps so far, but on “Alien Day” this year, April 26, Álvarez shared a behind-the-scenes photo of the franchise’s trademark facehugger holding a clapperboard.
In addition to Spaeny, Alien: Romulus will star Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. Álvarez directs from a script he co-wrote with Rodo Sayagues. Scott, who directed the original Alien as well as Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, will produce alongside Michael Pruss.
Alien: Romulus is scheduled to hit theaters on August 16, 2024
