Yahoo Movies Alien: Romulus director Fede Alvarez clarifies new movie's timeline
Alien: Romulus takes us back in time in the Alien series, following a new group of characters who unfortunately come face-to-face with a Xenomorph.
Back in November 2023, star Cailee Spaeny revealed that the new movie takes place between Alien and Aliens. She wasn't wrong, but director and co-writer Fede Alvarez has clarified exactly when Alien: Romulus is set.
"It was mostly something that made sense for a premise, that it needed to take place a few years after the first one. I don't know why I keep hearing that, maybe because I said it, that it takes place between 1 and 2," he said at an exclusive preview event on Monday (June 17) which Digital Spy attended.
"It's true, but I see it more as it takes place after 1, which means the same... It's kind of the child of both movies combined visually, aesthetically and story-wise."
Alvarez added that the movie takes place roughly 20 years after Alien, which would be roughly 37 years before Ripley is rescued from her escape shuttle at the start of Aliens.
If you really want to know the exact date that Alien: Romulus is set, you'll have to keep your eyes peeled.
"There's a date, actually. When you watch the movie, pay attention, there's a screen that pops up, there's a date and a year. That's the only chance you have. If you miss that screen in the beginning, you miss what year it is," Alvarez revealed.
"It makes sense for the story and it was my way to make sure the technology could have the style of Alien and there would be newer technology that you could see how that will eventually, in a few years, become the technology of Aliens."
Alien: Romulus lands in cinemas in August and has already got an important seal of approval from Ridley Scott, who returned to produce the new movie.
"He walks into the room and he did say, 'Fede, what can I say? It's f**king great'," Alvarez previously recalled. "My family knows it was one of the best moments of my life to have a master like him, who I admired so much, to even watch a movie I made."
Alien: Romulus is released in cinemas on August 16.
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