How the Alien: Romulus Sequel Can Steer Clear of an Ellen Ripley Rehash

Essential Insights

The triumph of Alien: Romulus revitalizes the franchise.
The sequel must avoid transforming Rain into a version of Ellen Ripley.
Focus on the sibling bond while steering clear of superhero clichés.

The achievement of Alien: Romulus has injected fresh life into the Xenomorph franchise. Previous films post-Ellen Ripley era introduced intriguing narratives; however, none left a lasting impact. Efforts in films like Prometheus and Covenant may have aimed for innovation but potentially deviated too far from the essence. In contrast, Romulus successfully harkens back to the core elements that made this franchise a standout in science fiction horror.

Although it’s exciting that Alien: Romulus has reignited interest in the Alien series, this newfound enthusiasm should serve as a reminder. The industry often takes time to learn from past missteps, and when changes happen, studios might become overly cautious. They may lean heavily on the winning formula from earlier successes. Therefore, it’s crucial for the sequel to establish its own identity rather than mimic the original trilogy.

A Distinct Path for Alien: Romulus

With the announcement of a sequel for Alien: Romulus featuring Cailee Spaeny’s Rain and her AI sibling Andy, there are critical pitfalls to navigate. It might be tempting for the studio to reshape Rain into a younger version of Ellen Ripley.

Cast	Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu
Writers Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues
Directed by	Fede Alvarez

Cast

Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu

Writers

Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues

Directed by

Fede Alvarez

Nevertheless, the storyline for the sequel should steer clear of simply making Rain an action staple. One of the most compelling aspects of the latest chapter is its unique characters that felt fresh to the franchise. While the notion of artificial beings has appeared in previous films, Andy’s character provides a refreshing take on a familiar archetype.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XDEhP4MQs

Alien: Romulus | Final Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XDEhP4MQs)

To avoid the repetitiveness of the Ripley storyline, a potential prequel could explore the fate of the Renaissance crew, albeit this would complicate Rain’s storyline unless combined with flashbacks revealing her actions while the crew faces peril.

If the next installment indeed follows directly from Alien: Romulus, there are various narrative angles to explore that allow for character development of Rain and Andy without morphing them into action-hero figures capable of rivaling the Xenomorphs. Such a narrative shift may have worked for Ripley, but repeating it would diminish its initial impact.

One promising storyline could delve into the evolving sibling dynamic between Rain and Andy. In the last installment, it was clear that while Rain showed affection towards her artificial brother, their bond was still not fully formed. She chose to leave him behind to escape the planet and even deceived him for her gain. After their shared experiences, it’s conceivable that their relationship has deepened.

This sibling connection could be leveraged for emotional depth. Imagine a scenario where Rain is helpless to intervene as a Xenomorph threatens Andy, or he faces hostility from those who despise artificial beings. A gripping narrative of survival against both Xenomorphs and antagonistic humans could offer thrilling entertainment while maintaining Rain’s complexity, steering her clear from becoming a cliché superhero.

Keep Ellen Ripley Separate

Staying away from transforming Rain into an Ellen Ripley echo is critical for the Alien: Romulus sequel. Sigourney Weaver has established Ripley as an iconic character, one recognized even by those who are not regular sci-fi horror fans.

Rain must create her own identity. She cannot be seen merely as a variation of Ellen Ripley, nor can she resemble an inferior version. Such an approach would undermine Spaeny’s portrayal and stifle any potential success for the sequel of Alien: Romulus. The follow-up should maintain a balance; it shouldn’t stray so far from the familiar that it feels disjointed—like Prometheus or Covenant—but it equally cannot retrace the same steps so closely that it becomes predictable.

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Image Credits: Gamerant.com