Warning! Spoilers ahead forAlien: Romulus.
Summary
Alien: Romulus' VFX supervisor confirms where the film’s Ripley Easter eggs can be found, and they change the character’s story beforeAliens. Directed by Fede Alvarez, the latest installment in theAlienfranchise follows Cailee Spaeny’s Rain and her companions as they face off against a Xenomorph aboard the derelict Renaissance space station.Alien: Romulustakes placebetween Ridley Scott’s 1979 original film and James Cameron’s 1986 sequel, meaning Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is canonically in cryosleep during the events of the film.
In a recent interview withCinemaBlend, Weta VFX Supervisor Daniel Macarin confirms a theory posted onAVPGalaxy.net, which states that one scene subtly features Ripley’s Starcub-class shuttle drifting away from the Renaissance station. Macarin also addresses another spotting, however, and confirms thatRipley’s Narcissus shuttle can be seen docked in the background of a scene in which Kay (Isabela Merced) becomes locked in a chamber with a Xenomorph. Check out Macarin’s comment below:
We did a tremendous amount of reference. Anytime we’re asked to put in Easter eggs, it is always really fun. The hard part is not making something too obvious, and not taking away from the story. So a lot of times it’s like, ‘Oh, wouldn’t it be funny if we did this?’ It’s like, ‘Yeah, but you’re going to lose the shot.’
I don’t want to put something in there that the audience is going to go, ‘Oh look, there it is.’ And then people start guessing about that. They’re thinking about it. So with (Ripley’s) ship, if you put it in really small, it’s fine. And you get the people who have gone two or three times and they start noticing those extra details, they might see it and it’s fine.
But any Easter egg has to be done in a very particular way so that you’re not taking away from the story. You’re giving it to the fans who are seeing it multiple times in theaters and giving them something to question later. … But once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
How Alien: Romulus Changes Ripley’s Story
Ripley’s Appearance In The Fede Alvarez Film Is The Perfect Easter Egg
Scott’s acclaimedAlienmemorably ends with Ripley blasting the Xenomorph out into space, seemingly killing it, before then entering cryosleep. In Cameron’s sequel, Ripley’s ship is rescued by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation and she is awoken after 57 years of cryosleep, with the implication being that she’s been adrift in space for all that time. The confirmation of Ripley’s presence inAlien: Romulus, however, changes this.
Ellen Ripley’s 10 Best Moments In The Alien Movies
Ellen Ripley is as much the star of the Alien franchise as the xenomorph, and she has plenty of iconic moments in the original quadrilogy.
Alien: Romulusopens with a Weyland-Yutani vessel sifting through the wreckage of the Nostromo, the ship from the first film, and recovering the very same Xenomorph that Ripley seemingly killed. The alien had somehow survived the vacuum of space, and, after Rain and her companions arrive at Renaissance station, it’s revealed that this same Xenomorph killed most of the station’s inhabitants. In addition to picking up this Xenomorph, however, the new Easter egg confirmation reveals thatRipley’s ship was also recovered and stored on the Romulus, before then being jettisoned back into space.
Alien: Romulusreviewshave been generally positive from critics and audiences, and the film has gotten off to a strong start at the box office.
Now, thankfully,this doesn’t actually harm Ripley’s story inAliens.Ripley, after all, has no knowledge that she was ever on the Romulus because she was in cryosleep the whole time. Ultimately, the Ripley Easter egg is just that: an Easter egg. It adds some fun new context to Ripley’s larger journey in the franchise without actually disrupting canon in a major way. The latest confirmation is also sure to makeAlien: Romulusa fun entry to revisit.
Alien: Romulus
Cast
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
