The confirmation that the next installment of the “Alien” cinematic universe has been titled “Alien: Romulus” is both a long-awaited event for fans and an important clue to the possible plot details. Seven years after the release of the last episode of this iconic series, this is a clear step away from the path charted by Ridley Scott’s prequels, with an entirely new cast, timeframe, and concept. It’s likely that the title of the film suggests that “Alien: Romulus” represents a new beginning for the franchise, with a focus on its further development. So, let’s try to speculate on what the new film about xenomorphs might be about.
Who created the film “Alien: Romulus”?
Although little concrete information is available about the project, some elements have already been confirmed. The 2024 horror film will star “Mare of Easttown” graduate Cailee Spaeny in the lead role, and the action will take place roughly 60 years after the events of the original film. It is also known that the project was directed by Fede Álvarez, who has solid experience in creating original thrillers like “Don’t Breathe” and horror films such as “Evil Dead.” This alone is an inspiring prospect for franchise fans, despite the fog surrounding the plot details. The latter is still shrouded in much speculation, but the second part of the title provides a key to understanding the direction and overall concept.
What does “Romulus” mean in the title of the new “Alien” movie?
The first and simplest explanation has roots in the history of the prequels. It’s possible that, as with “Alien: Covenant,” this is a direct reference to a spaceship that humans use to reach another world. It could also be a name used to designate some cosmic object, as a brief synopsis has already confirmed that the story will be about “a group of young people who find themselves on a distant planet in the company of the most terrifying life form in the universe.” But it would be too wasteful and strange to use such a vivid and significant name in the history of human civilization merely as a toponym or the name of a spaceship.
According to ancient myth, Romulus was the legendary founder and first king of Rome—a city that still bears his name. Raised by the Capitoline Wolf along with his brother Remus, he was exiled from his native Alba Longa before eventually founding the city on the Palatine Hill. Many of the customs and laws of Ancient Rome derive directly from Romulus’ edicts, though it’s unclear to what extent Romulus was actually a real person. Nevertheless, his status as a nation-builder is crucial to understanding the possible direction in which the story of “Alien” might develop.
Just as the mythical Romulus started anew far from the home of his ancestors and laid the foundation for the greatest state of antiquity, the heroes of the upcoming film may lay the groundwork for an entirely different storyline, unconnected to the misadventures of Ellen Ripley, malicious androids, and the biblical motifs that so captivated Ridley Scott, the original creator. A more direct analogy with the ancient Roman legend is also possible. What if Fede Álvarez tasks the Alien Queen with literally raising one of the heroes, becoming a kind of Capitoline Wolf and a revered symbol of the new world? This could mean that the familiar story of battling xenomorphs transforms into a tale of partnership or even symbiosis. And this new empire, emerging in deep space, might one day return to conquer the homeland of its founders, just as was the case with Rome.
We’ll find out soon enough, as the premiere of “Alien: Romulus,” slated for mid-August 2024, suggests that the release of the first footage and trailers, which will clarify the plot, is just around the corner. In any case, this is a very bad sign for Ridley Scott’s prequels, which were never as connected to the original “Alien” film, the one that famously asserted that “in space, no one can hear you scream.”