Alien: Romulus Sequel Will Tackle Issues That Affected Ridley Scott’s Prometheus Narrative

The sequel to Alien: Romulus may still be on the horizon, but it has already adeptly navigated a significant pitfall that hindered director Ridley Scott with his Prometheus follow-up. Upon its release in 2012, Prometheus was rife with plot inconsistencies, yet that did not diminish the audience’s desire for a sequel. In fact, the unresolved storylines only heightened interest, providing a golden opportunity for the franchise to clarify its narrative threads. Unfortunately, the sequel, Alien: Covenant, fell short of delivering the anticipated clarity regarding these lingering questions.

By the conclusion of Alien: Covenant, audiences finally discerned the fates of Elizabeth Shaw and David after the events of Prometheus. However, branding the film as a straightforward sequel would be misleading. With only vague references to Shaw, Covenant largely ignored the conclusion of its predecessor, opting instead for a separate storyline that felt more self-contained than a direct sequel. In stark contrast, the ending of Alien: Romulus is more definitive, suggesting that director Fede Alvarez is well aware of the blunders associated with previous sequels.

Direct Continuation of Rain’s Story in Alien: Romulus

Alvarez’s Plan for Alien: Romulus Sequel

In a recent discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, Fede Alvarez emphasized that the forthcoming sequel to Alien: Romulus would be a direct follow-up to the narratives surrounding Rain and Andy. He highlighted that he and co-writer Rodo Sayagues had explored potential plotlines, specifically focused on what would transpire when the two survivors reach Yvaga and whether it truly represents the utopia they envisioned. This assurance indicates that the sequel has the potential to sidestep the significant shortcomings of Prometheus‘s sequel.

Another major blunder of Alien: Covenant was its often confusing narrative, which attempted to operate as both an original piece and a loose extension of Prometheus. This resulted in an experience that felt neither entirely fresh nor sufficiently conclusive.

Alvarez also expressed that Alien: Romulus‘s sequel would not be rushed, drawing parallels to the original Alien and its sequel, Aliens, which had a substantial seven-year gap. Although fans may have to wait before seeing Cailee Span’s Rain again, it is encouraging to hear that Alvarez is committed to a direct narrative continuation. The lack of coherence in Alien: Covenant merely highlighted the film’s struggle to reconcile itself with its predecessor, ultimately leading to a plot that felt unoriginal while failing to resolve previous story arcs.

Alien: Covenant’s Disconnection from Prometheus

Disregarding Key Elements from Ridley Scott’s Prometheus

Thematic content related to the Alien series

In many ways, Alien: Covenant represented a misstep in bridging the two films. While notable moments existed, it ultimately failed to serve as a true sequel to Prometheus, leaving many of its complex storylines unexplained. Elements such as the mysterious black goo remained opaque, and the film struggled to deliver a cohesive narrative that could satisfy both fans of its predecessor and newcomers alike. Consequently, the commitment to a clearer direction in the sequel to Alien: Romulus is indeed welcome news, especially in light of the dis disillusionment surrounding Ridley Scott’s attempts.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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