Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, is already slated for a sequel. However, one element consistently criticized was the CGI depiction of Ian Holm.
Holm, who passed away in 2020, famously portrayed the android Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien. His controversial CGI return in Alien: Romulus drew widespread criticism for being distracting and unrealistic, prompting a popular fan edit to completely remove his character.
Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, acknowledging time constraints in post-production hindered the CGI quality. He stated to Empire magazine that the home release features improvements: "We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right...So, for people that react negatively, I don’t blame them." The studio invested additional resources to refine the CGI, resulting in a version that relies more heavily on practical puppetry.
Alien Film Chronological Order
9 Images
Alvarez confirmed the improvements for the home release, emphasizing the enhanced quality. However, fan reactions remain mixed. While some acknowledge a slight improvement, many still find the portrayal distracting, with some questioning the necessity of Holm's inclusion altogether. Reddit discussions highlight this ongoing debate, with comments ranging from "Better, but still awfully uncanny" to criticisms of the initial decision to include Holm's character.
A Reddit user, u/Davidedby, in r/LV426, directly compared the Blu-ray and digital versions, showcasing the reduced CGI presence in the home release. Despite the revisions, the sentiment persists that the initial CGI work was fundamentally flawed, limiting the potential for improvement.
Despite the mixed reception regarding Holm's portrayal, Alien: Romulus achieved significant box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is under consideration by 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.
