Director Fede Álvarez has revealed how Alien: Romulus’ sequel will thankfully avoid one franchise problem in a recent update. Alien: Romulus was a critical and commercial success, earning $350.9 million at the box office and generally positive reviews from critics and fans who praised Romulus’ return to the tense, claustrophobic horror that made the original Alien so iconic.
Following its positive reception, a sequel was announced to be in development, with Álvarez stating that pre-production for the Alien sequel was underway in June, ready to film in October. However, earlier this month, Álvarez confirmed he won’t be returning to direct Alien: Romulus’ sequel. Instead, Álvarez will remain attached as a co-writer, with directing duties falling to someone else.
Now, speaking at the HorrorBound Weekend event, Álvarez further explained his decision to step away from directing Alien: Romulus’ sequel. However, Álvarez also made it clear that he and co-writer Rodo Sayagues were adamant about protecting the legacy of the characters they created in Alien: Romulus, hoping to avoid a franchise mistake. Check out what he said below:
“I don’t think I was ever going to. We always knew right when we finished – this is one of those things where you come in, and you do one, and get out. Cameron, Fincher… all those directors I love, they went and did one. Obviously, Ridley created it, he has the right to make a bunch of them.
We did want to write it. Honestly, it’s because we love the characters we created, so we want to make sure no one kills them right at the beginning of the next one. They went and killed Hicks and Newt just like that. Hey, let’s not let that happen. We wrote it and made sure they stayed alive, and now we can let someone else make it.”
Álvarez’s comments refer to the infamously abrupt deaths of Hicks and Newt at the beginning of Alien 3. Despite the emotional investment built during Aliens, those characters were unceremoniously killed off-screen in the opening moments of the sequel, undermining their arcs and the payoff of Ripley’s journey, a decision that has since become a cautionary tale in the franchise.
What This Means for Alien: Romulus’ Sequel
Álvarez’s comments confirm that Alien: Romulus’ will retain continuity with the first film and respect the survival of its characters. Rather than using shocking early deaths as a plot device, the sequel is expected to build on the character development already established in a move that may help deepen emotional stakes rather than reset them, like Alien 3 did.
This also suggests that the franchise is embracing long-form storytelling and character investment over standalone sequels, continuing Alien’s tradition of recurring characters, such as Ripley. With Álvarez co-writing, fans can feel more confident that the sequel won’t simply discard Alien: Romulus‘ survivors in the name of shock value or narrative convenience, and will be a faithful follow-up to the 2024 movie’s success.
Our Take on Fede Álvarez’s Comments
Fede Álvarez’s decision to “come in, and you do one, and get out,” stepping away as director but staying on as a writer, reflects his respect for the franchise’s legacy and a clear understanding of fan sentiment and narrative integrity. The Alien franchise has struggled with tonal shifts and abrupt character arcs previously, and Álvarez seems determined to course-correct that.
By protecting Rain and Andy from the fate of Hicks and Newt, Álvarez evidently aims to build a new era of Alien stories that can develop across multiple films. Therefore, if Alien: Romulus truly marked a return to form, its sequel will be a brilliant follow-up that takes care of its beloved characters — and its audience — in equal measure.
