How good is the new sci-fi horror ‘Alien: Romulus’? Original director Ridley Scott gives his verdict

The ‘Alien’ franchise grows with another installment: Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus‘ is set in the same world as the previous films in the series, but tells an independent story. The most important question is probably: does the new science fiction horror film from the ‘Evil Dead’ director also breathe the spirit of the cult series, which has regularly disturbed cinema audiences since 1979 with its Xenomorphs designed by HR Giger? No one can answer that better than Ridley Scott, director of ‘Alien – The Uncanny Creature from a Strange World’.

And that’s why Fede Alvarez really wanted Scott to see his work before anyone else, as he did as part of the DGA Latino Summit 2023 told. Speaking to Guillermo del Toro, Alvarez also revealed Scott’s assessment of “Alien: Romulus” – what he initially feared:

‘Everyone warned me that Ridley was very strict. “He is very strict, especially when it has something to do with his films,” Alvarez said. For example, Scott had problems with ‘Blade Runner 2049’ because it affected his work. And when it comes to the work of his late brother Tony Scott, Ridley Scott is also very critical. “I asked him about the new ‘Top Gun’ and he said, ‘Meh,’” Alvarez says. When asked what Scott meant by that, she explained: “The one [Film] My brother’s was original and this one looks more like ‘eh’.”

‘It’s impossible for me to win here’

Dismissive sounds that really made Fede Alvarez afraid of the judgment of the master director: “I saw how strong he could be. So I thought there was no way I could win here.” He really wanted to hear Scott’s opinion in person and look him in the eye, rather than receive an impersonal email.

“So he walked into the room and said, ‘Fede, what can I say? It’s fucking amazing. ” Scott’s original phrasing was “damn awesome” — and the creator of a new “Alien” movie can hardly imagine a higher compliment. But it got even better, because Ridley Scott praised a very special aspect that you might not immediately expect from a science fiction horror film.

“Fucking great” isn’t everything!

“One of the nicest compliments he gave was “The dialogues are great. Are you the author?’ Yes!” – an absolute relief for Fede Alvarez: “My family knows that it was one of the best moments of my life, that a master like him, whom I admire so much, would even watch one of my films, but something like that… and he spoke to me in an hour long, which he liked.

In the new ‘Alien’ film, currently called ‘Alien: Romulus’ but not yet officially titled, a group of young people find themselves stranded on a distant planet and confronted by the most terrifying life form in the universe: the xenomorph. Included are Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux and Isabela Merced. The new ‘Alien’ movie is expected to hit theaters on August 15, 2024.