Since its initial announcement in 2022, Alien: Romulus has captivated fans with one burning question: Will Sigourney Weaver?s iconic character, Ellen Ripley, make an appearance in the latest chapter of the beloved franchise? Although it was evident from the outset that director and co-writer, Fede Álvarez, aimed to create a distinct narrative separate from the previous six Alien films, optimism persisted among fans. Despite clear indications from both the director and Weaver that the cherished final girl would not feature in the new film, many audience members held onto the hope of a cameo?especially after learning that Romulus serves as both a sequel and a prequel, strategically positioned between the original Ridley Scott masterpiece and its sequel, James Cameron?s Aliens.
However, those who attended Álvarez?s visually stunning sci-fi horror spectacle exited the theater without a glimpse of Ellen Ripley? or did they? It turns out that there are several significant Easter eggs linking Weaver?s legendary character to Romulus, and the connections extend beyond merely existing in the same universe.
Recently, Collider hosted a special screening of Alien: Romulus, followed by an engaging Q&A moderated by Steve Weintraub. The panel, celebrating the film’s Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects, featured Álvarez, VFX Supervisor Eric Barbra, and W?t? FX VFX Supervisor Dan Macarin. Eager to address all of our burning inquiries, the film?s director shed light on the most significant Easter egg that audiences likely overlooked ? a revelation centered around Ellen Ripley.
Álvarez elaborated on the convergence of the two universes, stating,
?My logic was at some point if Weyland-Yutani could find the Xenomorph floating around the debris of the Nostromo, discovering the Narcissus, the shuttle that Ripley escaped in, would be the most straightforward task. It?s essentially a lifeboat; it has a beacon. Yeah, you?ll find her, right? It would be a logical step to investigate what?s happening. They should definitely go retrieve her. So I imagined that at some point, the Narcissus must be housed within the Renaissance station. Additionally, I aimed to clarify why Ripley was lost for 40 years between [Alien and Aliens]. Her intended path was to return to Earth and be in stasis for decades until she was discovered in Aliens, prompting me to ponder, ?What caused that delay?? So I reasoned, ?Perhaps they picked her up.??
With this intriguing subplot in mind, Álvarez effectively crafted a cinematic narrative that runs parallel to the main storyline, showcasing the events involving Cailee Spaeny?s Rain Carradine and the ill-fated young crew of Corbelan IV, while Ripley?s distinct adventure unfolds concurrently. He explained,
?In my mind, there?s a whole movie that occurs alongside this one where the Narcissus is onboard, and Ripley navigates her own perilous journey within the station, confronting the Xenomorph. I believe a lot of the chaos that takes place in the film could have been Ripley?s actions, occurring before the kids even arrive. It?s a massive station, right? It?s enormous. You only witness about 3% of the corridors that exist within that station. When you see them, consider the vastness. Hence, there?s plenty of room for Ripley to be around, conducting her own operations. Eventually, when she realizes the station is about to explode, she must return to the Narcissus and escape.?
Discover Hidden Easter Eggs in Alien: Romulus
If you need a moment to process that astonishing Easter egg, take your time; we completely understand. Now that we?ve wrapped our heads around this thrilling revelation, let?s explore where to catch glimpses of the Narcissus. Analyzing the moments when Ripley?s escape vessel makes an appearance in Romulus, Álvarez noted,
?If you pay close attention, you?ll spot the Narcissus twice in the film, subtly placed in the background during several scenes where characters walk past it, and you can see it clearly on the wall. And of course, since she cannot die, during the massive explosion at the film’s climax when the station crashes onto the rings, the Narcissus must be shown departing. I requested, ?Can we add a Narcissus here?? and they excitedly responded, ?We?ve got this!? You can indeed witness that moment in the movie. As the Corbelan escapes, you can see the Narcissus with Ripley onboard, fleeing from the chaos.?
Following Álvarez?s insights, W?t? FX Visual Effects Supervisor Macarin shared the excitement his team felt about bringing Ripley?s secret cameo to life, stating,
?You had already initiated the Easter egg with the poster and everything, so we were eagerly anticipating something like that. During our discussions about ideas, you tossed it out there, and the comp supervisor next to me, Ben Morgan, exclaimed, ?I?ll do it! I don?t care. I?ll take care of it. You can count on me.? It?s that passion for the series that drives us, emphasizing, ?Absolutely. It?s crucial, and we want to incorporate it into the film.??
For fans eager to experience these hidden details, it?s clear that a rewatch is in order. Thankfully, Alien: Romulus is currently available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
Alien: Romulus
- Release Date
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August 16, 2024
- Runtime
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119 Minutes
- Director
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Fede Alvarez
- Writers
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Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues, Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett
- Franchise(s)
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Alien
