Alien: Romulus, a critical and commercial success, has already spurred a sequel. However, one element consistently criticized was the CGI depiction of Ian Holm.
Holm, who passed away in 2020, famously portrayed the android Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien. His controversial CGI resurrection in Alien: Romulus drew widespread criticism for being distracting and unrealistic, prompting a popular fan edit to entirely remove his character.
Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, acknowledging time constraints in post-production hindered the CGI quality. He stated to Empire magazine that the home release features improvements: "We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right...So, for people that react negatively, I don’t blame them." The studio invested additional resources to refine the CGI, shifting towards a greater reliance on practical puppetry for the home release.
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Alvarez confirmed the improvements, emphasizing a better integration of practical effects. However, fan reactions remain mixed. While some acknowledge improvement, many still find the portrayal distracting and question the necessity of Holm's inclusion. Reddit discussions highlight this ongoing debate, with comments ranging from "Better, but still awfully uncanny" to criticisms of the initial decision to include the character.
Alien Romulus - Rook CGI Updates BluRay vs Digital
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The home release minimizes the CGI face by strategically framing shots to showcase more of the practical puppet. Despite the revisions, some viewers maintain the CGI remains jarring and question the ethical implications of resurrecting a deceased actor through such means.
Despite the controversy, Alien: Romulus achieved significant box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is currently under consideration by 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning as director.
