Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez reveals how the film managed to keep its most shocking moment a complete secret. The latest entry in the Alien franchise, set between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), already carried significant expectations due to its ties to Ridley Scott’s original, and as a precursor to James Cameron’s sequel. One of its biggest surprises came in the form of Rook, an android featuring Ian Holm’s appearance and voice, despite the actor’s pᴀssing in 2020. While an impressive technological feat, the decision to resurrect Ian Holm in Alien: Romulus digitally has since been the subject of controversy.
In a conversation with Collider, Álvarez detailed the extraordinary efforts made to preserve the unexpected reveal of Ian Holm. The director explained how at test screenings for Alien: Romulus, viewers were urged not to spoil the moment for others, ensuring that audiences a few months later would be genuinely shocked upon seeing the iconic villain’s face and hearing his voice again. Read what he had to say below:
Rook in this movie was something that we kept as a secret until it was the last second. Most of you, hopefully, didn’t know until you went in on opening night. Early on, this dude had said, ‘It’s impossible. People will know. There will be screenings.’
But then the few screenings we did before the movie, I begged everybody, “Please do not ruin it for everybody else. Do not post about Ian Holm being in the film.” I do this because I want people to be there in the audience and go, “Oh, f***ing hell, it’s Ian Holm!’ You rob them of that moment if they read it already online that he’s going to be in the film.
What Alien: Romulus’ Most Surprising And Divisive Secret Means
An Impressive Mix Of Technology And Effort
Ian Holm first appeared in the original Alien as Ash, Nostromo’s science officer who is revealed to be a sleeper agent for the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. His calculated demeanor became a reflection of the Corporation’s sinister agenda, making him one of the franchise’s most memorable villains. In Alien: Romulus, Holm’s likeness returns in the form of Rook, a new android model with similar programming and directives to Ash. Director Álvarez positioned Rook as a crucial role in his installment while tying Romulus into the greater franchise, as the android continued Weyland-Yutani’s mission to obtain Xenomorph-related research on the abandoned Renaissance.
With the use of CGI, deepfake AI technology, and animatronics, Legacy Effects and Metaphysic—some of the studios behind Romulus’ award-nominated visuals—were able to recreate Ian Holm for Alien: Romulus. The success of Alien: Romulus in keeping Holm’s return under wraps is surely an anomaly in an industry where leaks and early spoilers run rampant. Beloved franchises like Star Wars notably had less success in keeping certain character appearances a secret, with the return of Carrie Fisher’s likeness in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Peter Crushing in Rogue One already known before each film’s release.
Our Take On Alien: Romulus’ Biggest Secret
Rook Felt More Like A Crutch Than A Star
Alien: Romulus managing to keep Ian Holm’s return a secret is a notable feat. That said, the choice to use Holm’s likeness posthumously felt more like unnecessary fan service than a meaningful addition to the story. In response to the negative reaction from fans and critics alike, director Fede Álvarez announced that the CGI behind Holm’s appearance would be fixed for the Romulus home release. However, this doesn’t change the fact that repurposing the actor’s image and voice through a mix of puppetry and CGI felt ultimately hollow and didn’t allow Alien: Romulus to stand on its own merit.
Source: Collider
