Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, has already spawned a sequel. However, one aspect drew widespread criticism: the CGI portrayal of Ian Holm. Holm, who passed away in 2020, famously played Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien, and his controversial CGI return in Alien: Romulus was deemed distracting and unrealistic by many viewers. A popular fan edit even removed his character entirely.
Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, admitting in an Empire interview that time constraints during post-production hindered the CGI's quality. He stated, "We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. I wasn’t 100% happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention. So, for people that react negatively, I don’t blame them.”
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For the home release, Alvarez revised the CGI, stating, “We fixed it. We made it better for the release right now. I convinced the studio we need to spend the money and make sure we give the companies that were involved in making it the proper time to finish it and do it right. It’s so much better.” This revised version incorporates more puppetry.
However, fan reactions remain mixed. While some acknowledge a slight improvement, many still find Holm's appearance distracting, with some questioning the necessity of his inclusion altogether. Reddit discussions highlight this ongoing debate, with comments ranging from "Better, but still awfully uncanny… and for no sound reason" to "Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie…"
The home release version utilizes more practical effects, minimizing the prominent CGI face. Yet, criticism persists, with comments such as "Let's be real, it's still awful and garish to resurrect a dead man so needlessly."
Despite the controversy surrounding Holm's portrayal, Alien: Romulus achieved significant box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is currently in development at 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.
