Even though Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez said that he wouldn’t be returning to direct the upcoming sequel, he did reveal that he’s writing the screenplay for what will eventually become Alien: Romulus 2. It was also rumored that Álvarez had pitched Demián Rugna, the director behind sleeper hit When Evil Lurks, as a potential replacement. Now, Rugna has addressed Álvarez’s comment, and has revealed whether he’s the one directing the sequel to 2024’s horror hit.
Rugna was recently interviewed by Omelete, and he took the time to refute the rumors that he’s been chosen as the next director in the Alien franchise. Though he’s flattered, Rugna says it’s just not true. For now, the untitled project remains without a director:
“I heard the rumor. It’s truly flattering, and I love the idea, but there’s nothing to it. Just a comment from Fede Álvarez. It’s great that I’m being mentioned for it, but I wish it were true, and I didn’t have to say there’s nothing to it.
“I have talked to Fede about doing something together in the future. He’s a great guy, and we admire each other. Hopefully, we’ll do something in the future.”
Alien: Romulus was released in 2024 to a great reception by critics. At 80% on the critics’ score, it became the third highest-rated film in the Alien franchise, sitting below Aliens and Alien, which have scores of 94% and 93%, respectively. The film was also very well-received by audiences, eventually becoming the highest-grossing horror film of 2024. It grossed over $350 million from a production budget of $80 million.
The Current Status of the ‘Alien’ Franchise
After Alien: Romulus became a hit, talks about a sequel quickly followed. Surely, the studio would not miss the opportunity to capitalize on the classic horror franchise. Álvarez is still working on continuing his timeline, and though he won’t direct the movie (at least, for now), the Alien franchise shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
Sigourney Weaver recently shared with fans that she has had talks about possibly reprising the role of Ellen Ripley in a future movie. Per a treatment by producer Walter Hill, the legendary Alien character could return in some form, but how the film would sit in the timeline is something that is yet to be seen if the project gets greenlit and Weaver does indeed sign on the line.
Then, there is Alien: Earth, Noah Hawley’s captivating TV series whose second season remains a mystery. The first season of Hawley’s show, set ten years before the events of Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece, was a huge success, and while he has made it clear his has a multi-season plan, there has been no official green light for more from Disney just yet.
- Release Date
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August 16, 2024
- Runtime
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119 Minutes
- Writers
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Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues, Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett