No one can hear your scream in space, but in a packed theater? Everyone can, thanks to the Alien franchise. The Alien movies have made audiences radiate fear since Ridley Scott first brought a terrifying Xenomorph to life on the silver screen in 1979. Now, the iconic movie monster is poised to return to theaters again in Alien: Romulus.

Following the surprise success of Prey on Hulu/Disney+, 20th Century Studios and Disney wasted no time and started developing more Predator and Alien projects for both TV and cinema. While Ridley Scott has long shepherded the Alien franchise, filmmaker Fede Álvarez is taking the reign of this new film, which 20th Century Studios has claimed will take the franchise back to its roots. Find out exactly what that means and all the other essential information about Alien: Romulus.

Is There a Trailer for Alien: Romulus?

20th Century Studios recently unveiled the first teaser trailer for Alien: Romulus. The trailer emphasizes the film's horror elements, which evokes the atmosphere of the original Alien movie, albeit this time with more face-huggers.

The trailer is ominous, with several prolonged tracking shots of desolate corridors. From there, it escalates in intensity with a face-hugger swarm attack before introducing audiences to the film's main character, Cailee Spaeny's Rain Carradine, a firearm-wielding member of the crew poised to confront this horrifying alien menace head-on.

What Is Alien: Romulus About?

Formerly described as an "original stand-alone" entry unconnected to the previous films, director Fede Álvarez recently suggested that Alien: Romulus might not be as unconnected to what came before as everyone assumed. When Alien: Romulus was first announced, Álvarez and his co-writer, Rodo Sayagues' official synopsis for the project read: "While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe."

Since then, the film's star, Cailee Spaeny, revealed that the movie will be set between the events of Alien and Aliens. For those who aren't aware (or don't remember), 57 years passed while the sole survivor of the USCSS Nostromo, Ellen Ripley, floated through deep space before she found herself on LV-426. Alien: Romulus will fit snuggly into that period while touching upon what came before.

During a conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, Fede Álvarez told them, "I love all of those movies. I didn't want to omit or ignore any of them when it comes to connections at a story level, character level, technology level, and creature level. There's always connections from Alien to Alien: Covenant." For those fans pondering the film title's significance, Romulus was Rome's legendary founder and its first king. Considering the Xenomorph Queen is one of the most iconic movie monsters ever created, it begs the question: are fans finally about to meet the Xenomorph King?

Who Stars In Alien: Romulus?

In keeping with many other entries in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus will comprise a cast of new characters while featuring a lineup of fresh, young, rising stars in Hollywood. Specific details about the film's characters have been few and far between. That being said, the actors set to face the terrifying Xenomorph include Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla), David Jonsson (Murder Is Easy), Archie Reaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (Madame Web), Spike Fearn (Aftersun), and Aileen Wu, who is making her big screen acting debut.

The characters' potential ties to James Cameron's hit sequel, Aliens, are as intriguing as the cast. Fede Álvarez has revealed that he drew inspiration for the film's cast of characters from an Aliens deleted scene, one that was later restored in the extended Special Edition cut by Cameron, which depicted children running around in the LV-426 colony corridors.

Álvarez continued to the Hollywood Reporter, "There's a moment where you see a bunch of kids running [and riding a big wheel] around the corridors of this colony. And I thought, 'Wow, what would it be like for those kids to grow up in a colony that still needs another 50 years to terraform?' So I remember thinking, 'If I ever tell a story in that world, I would definitely be interested in those kids when they reach their early twenties.'"

Who Is Making Alien: Romulus?

Already well-versed in the horror genre, Fede Álvarez has brought his expertise to Alien: Romulus, drawing upon his acclaimed filmography of terrifying films, like the infamous basement sequence in his 2016 hit, Don't Breathe, and numerous spine-chilling moments in his reimagining of Evil Dead from 2013. Simply put, Álvarez has demonstrated a talent for making audiences squirm in their seats.

Reports suggest that Álvarez conceived the idea for his Alien film years ago and discussed it with Ridley Scott. However, it wasn't until 2021 that Scott formally proposed collaborating on the project. Shortly after that, 20th Century Studios greenlit the pitch. Álvarez then traveled to Budapest, where the film began shooting in April 2023 and wrapped up production later that summer in July.

Are Ridley Scott and James Cameron Involved?

While Ridley Scott won't be directing Alien: Romulus, he remains closely involved with the film's production, working with Fede Álvarez. Serving as the film's lead producer, Scott's extensive experience in the Xenomorph universe provided crucial creative support for Álvarez in helping shape the story's direction, if not the look of the film as well.

When Álvarez presented his director's cut to Scott, the Alien franchise's original director was floored by the product, even though it was a rough cut without any special effects added in, reportedly telling Álvarez, "Fede, what can I say? It's f***ing great.'" Since Álvarez aimed to capture the essence of both Ridley Scott and James Cameron's seminal films, he also ensured Romulus received guidance from the Avatar filmmaker. When Cameron learned that Álvarez was helming the next Alien film, he opened up a discourse between the two, providing feedback for Álvarez on the script and the editing process.

Most interesting of all? Ridley Scott and James Cameron always had different notes. While speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Fede Álvarez told them, "[James Cameron's] seen the movie and loved it. It's also fascinating because [Cameron and Scott's] notes and comments are completely different. They wouldn't repeat a note. Whatever Ridley said, Cameron said something different. They were all super smart comments, notes and thoughts on the film and filmmaking, et cetera, but both of them have completely different approaches. So the fantastic part of being able to make this film is to have the chance to work with them."

When Will Alien: Romulus Be Released?