Summary

• Alien: Romulus showcases a new Xenomorph design reminiscent of the original film, hinting at a fresh start for the franchise.
• The teaser trailer for Alien: Romulus hints at a storyline that revisits classic elements of the Alien universe.
• Director Fede Álvarez plans to use practical effects for a more authentic feel, similar to the Ridley Scott and James Cameron originals.

Alien: Romulus revealed a new trailer that features a glimpse of a new design for the iconic Xenomorph that subtly gives away one key plot point. Although the plot details for Alien: Romulus aren't clear, what is confirmed is that the Xenomorphs from previous installments in the Alien franchise will return in Alien: Romulus. Furthermore, the trailer for Alien: Romulus suggests its story will revisit the classic planet featured in Alien. Although briefly seen at the end of the trailer, the Xenomorph's design in Alien: Romulus is different from Aliens in one crucial way.

Although viewers get glimpses of the new crew who will be fighting the Xenomorph threat in outer space, they also get brief glimpses of facehuggers relentlessly attacking them. Additionally, the Xenomorph's presence can be felt throughout Alien: Romulus' trailer despite not making its appearance in it until the very end. Director Fede Álvarez will use practical effects and animatronics in Alien: Romulus, which will contribute to the upcoming movie feeling more like the Ridley Scott and James Cameron originals. However, the design for the Xenomorphs featured in the trailer already makes Alien: Romulus different in one major way.

Alien: Romulus' Alien Looks 'New'

The Xenomorph Resembles The Alien Design From Alien and Alien 3, Not Aliens

The Xenomorph in Alien: Romulus resembles the design prominently featured in Alien and Alien 3, instead of the design that was used in Aliens. With its smooth, shiny carapace, the Xenomorph won't be adopting Aliens' more rugged and bumpy design that gives it more of an armored appearance. Additionally, the shinier and sleeker design that will be seen in Alien: Romulus will also resemble the designs of the Xenomorphs as seen in the prequel movies, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, which further hints at Alien: Romulus' timeline. Although the design looks new, it isn't.

Although the Xenomorph design in Alien: Romulus isn't exactly new, it hearkens back to the Xenomorphs' ability to change their appearance across different movies.

Since the smoother design has already been prominently featured throughout the Alien franchise, it suggests that the events of the story will take place in a timeline that audiences familiar with the movies will recognize. While the human characters will have no idea what's going on, viewers will be able to identify precisely the level of danger they're in based on what the Xenomorph looks like. Although the Xenomorph design in Alien: Romulus isn't exactly new, it hearkens back to the Xenomorphs' ability to change their appearance across different movies.

Why The Alien's Design Changes Between Alien And Aliens

Xenomorphs Change Design For A Number Of Reasons

Xenomorphs are renowned for taking on different designs and appearances, while also demonstrating vastly different behavior. Although the Xenomorphs are arguably the most recognizable aliens in the Alien franchise, they take on two other forms prior to their adult form. Xenomorphs start their life cycle as a small yet ferocious facehugger creature, itself a spider-like being that latches itself onto its victims' face and essentially inseminates them with an embryo. The embryo then grows into what is known as a chestburster, and after successfully bursting through its victim's chest, begins the maturation process into a Xenomorph.

The events of Aliens take place across multiple days, which explains why the Xenomporh looks and behaves much differently than its predecessor.

A Xenomorph's environment and its age are arguably the biggest contributing factors when it comes to its appearance. In Alien, the events of the film only take place for roughly 24 hours. This is important because, despite its sheer destruction of the crew aboard the Nostromo, the Xenomorph in the movie wasn't even a full-grown adult yet. The events of Aliens take place across multiple days, which explains why the Xenomporh looks and behaves much differently than its predecessor. While Alien: Romulus' timeline isn't clear yet, its teaser already gives audiences clues about the Xenomorph.

What Alien: Romulus' Alien Design Means For Its Story

Alien: Romulus' Xenomorph Just Hatched, And Will Be More Like The Original Film

Since the Xenomorph in Alien: Romulus closely resembles the creature prominently featured in Alien, it is strongly implied that this Xenomorph has recently hatched and is still immature. This is noteworthy because, despite being its own separate story from previous installments, it will undeniably hearken back to the Xenomorph responsible for the deaths in Alien. Furthermore, the new crew won't stumble across a nest of alien eggs in Alien: Romulus, which further highlights the idea that the new Xenomorph will hunt the new crew down all by itself.

With a similar setup and the immature Xenomorph's Alien-like appearance, Alien: Romulus will have the potential to be a fresh start for the Alien franchise after its more recent lackluster outings.

Coupled with Álvarez's desire to use practical effects, sets, and animatronics over CGI, the Xenomorphs more closely resembling Alien will make Alien: Romulus' story more like the original movie. With a similar setup and the immature Xenomorph's Alien-like appearance, Alien: Romulus will have the potential to be a fresh start for the Alien franchise after its more recent lackluster outings. By being placed in between Alien and Aliens, Alien: Romulus could serve as a soft reboot for the franchise, while bringing in newer audiences.