The first look at the new “Alien: Romulus” movie has arrived as director Fede Alvarez unleashes a teaser trailer that shares a lot of DNA with the original film in the franchise…
“In space no one can hear you scream.”
That’s the original tagline for Ridley Scott’s masterpiece “Alien” from 1979, which is regarded as one of the greatest science fiction horror films in history. James Cameron then followed up that movie with his blistering, critically acclaimed “Aliens” in 1986 that blended elements from the original with intense action sequences unlike anything scene on film before.
Of course there have been a multitude of sequels and prequels since then but director Fede Alvarez — best known for his work on horror films such as “Don’t Breathe” and the “Evil Dead” reboot from 2013 — decided to take his version of an “Alien” film back to its roots when developing his latest project.
The finished product titled “Alien: Romulus” will drop in theaters on August 16 but the first trailer was released on Wednesday and so far, Alvarez has nailed the look and feel when matched up against the original films in the franchise. The trailer teases an isolated story with a crew on a spaceship that has the misfortune to cross paths with a deadly Xenomorph — and that never ends well for anybody.
Here’s the official synopsis for the film:
“The sci-fi/horror-thriller takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.”
Alvarez — who actually got Scott and Cameron’s blessing for his version of the film, which takes place between the events of “Alien” and “Aliens” — was inspired by a cut scene from the original sequel that gave him an idea about the setting he wanted for his own film. The scene in question was restored in Cameron’s director’s cut of “Aliens” where he shows life on LV-426 before the alien ship is discovered and the eggs on board erupt with the facehuggers that eventually destroy everything in their path.
“There’s a moment where you see a bunch of kids running [and riding a big wheel] around the corridors of this colony. And I thought, ‘Wow, what would it be like for those kids to grow up in a colony that still needs another 50 years to terraform?’” Álvarez told The Hollywood Reporter. “So I remember thinking, ‘If I ever tell a story in that world, I would definitely be interested in those kids when they reach their early twenties.’”
That explains the younger cast in “Alien: Romulus,” which stars Cailee Spaeny (“Priscilla”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”) and Aileen Wu.
The trailer definitely sets the state for a deadly encounter for the young crew aboard this ship after encountering a Xenomorph for the first time.
Take a look at the teaser for “Alien: Romulus” and get ready for the film to land in theaters this August!
