There are still a few months to go before Alien Romulus hits theaters, and anticipation is building. This movie marks the seventh installment in the Alien franchise, following 2017’s Alien: Covenant. This time, the director’s chair is occupied by Fede Álvarez, known for his work on Evil Dead, promising plenty of thrills and chills.
Set between the events of the first and second Alien movies, Alien: Romulus follows a group of young explorers who encounter familiar terrors in an abandoned research facility. While much of the movie remains cloaked in mystery, we have a trailer to analyze and exclusive quotes from star Cailee Spaeny and director Álvarez. Here’s everything you need to know about the release date and cast.
Alien Romulus Release Date
Alien Romulus is set to release in theaters on August 16, 2024. Initially planned for a direct-to-streaming release on Hulu, the film’s distribution was switched to a theatrical release just before filming began.
Alien Romulus Trailer
The first teaser trailer for Alien Romulus gives a brief but intense glimpse of what’s to come – expect spine-chilling screams, plenty of blood, and the menacing presence of Facehuggers. The trailer opens with eerie shots of abandoned hallways, with voices desperately calling for help. “Help! Someone help me, please!” one voice cries. Another shouts, “No, no, I don’t… I don’t know what it is!” while a third pleads, “Get it away from me!” Cailee Spaeny’s character, Raines, makes a striking entrance holding a pulse rifle, reminiscent of Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley in Aliens. Director Fede Álvarez dives deeper into the trailer’s details in an exclusive interview.
Alien Romulus Plot
Alien: Romulus is set between Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens. “We wanted this film to be a bridge between the two, incorporating both heightened tension and genuine horror,” Spaeny explained to Total Film. Álvarez describes the movie as a “survival horror.”
The story centers on a group of young space colonizers who stumble upon a derelict research station called the Renaissance, where they face the terrifying xenomorphs. Spaeny’s character, Raines, channels the spirit of Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley. “I put everything I had into bringing this character to life. Watching Sigourney’s performance was inspiring, but I wanted to make Raines unique and multidimensional,” Spaeny shared.
According to Álvarez, Alien: Romulus is a standalone story. “You don’t need to have seen any previous Alien movies to enjoy this one. It’s designed to stand on its own, but fans of the franchise will find plenty of nods and references,” he told Total Film. “It’s a love letter to the entire series.”
The title Alien: Romulus is inspired by the myth of Romulus and Remus. “It’s a story about siblinghood gone awry, which is a central theme in our movie,” Álvarez hinted.
Alien Romulus Cast
Cailee Spaeny leads the cast of Alien: Romulus, joined by an ensemble of rising stars portraying her fellow space explorers.
- Cailee Spaeny – Rain Carradine
- David Jonsson – Andy
- Isabela Merced – Kay
- Archie Renaux – TBC
- Spike Fearn – TBC
- Aileen Wu – TBC