The Alien series is set to expand with Alien: Romulus 2, following the critical and commercial success of Alien: Romulus in 2024. Directed initially by Fede Álvarez, who helped develop the sequel’s script, the directorial role will shift to a new, unnamed filmmaker. As the story continues the arc of Cailee Spaeny’s Rain and David Jonsson’s Andy surviving the violent finale of the previous film, the narrative promises to build on its predecessor’s momentum while revealing ongoing franchise challenges.
The Unfinished Legacy of Ridley Scott’s Alien Prequels
Ridley Scott’s returns to the Alien saga with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant marked a distinct departure from the franchise’s typical narrative style. Prometheus especially distanced itself by exploring origins in a way that barely connected overtly to the original Alien films, while Covenant reintroduced classic elements but deepened unresolved questions. Scott’s vision sparked mixed reactions, contrasting with the more universally embraced Alien: Romulus.
Over time, however, audiences have softened toward the prequels. Repeated viewings allow for appreciation of the intentions behind Scott’s storytelling, recognizing that his approach was never meant to replicate the classic Alien formula. Still, the exact aims behind these films remain ambiguous. Alien: Covenant’s conclusion left many critical threads open, such as the nature and motivations of the Engineers, a pivotal entity responsible for humanity’s creation on Earth and also its potential destruction.
The intentions of the Engineers, their history, and their connection to the xenomorphs are questions that persist without clear answers. The narrative suggests that the Engineers might have sought humanity’s extinction due to human violence, but this remains speculative rather than explicitly explained on screen. Simultaneously, the character of David—Michael Fassbender’s synthetic who emerges as an architect of xenomorph evolution—lays the groundwork for overarching conflict, implying he aims to craft creatures to dominate under his godlike control.
The origins of the xenomorphs themselves remain blurred within the prequel trilogy. Hinted as a natural species initially, their forms and abilities appear to be shaped progressively by the Engineers and David. These gaps leave significant lore unresolved, inviting viewers to fill in the blanks.
How Incomplete Prequels Undermine Alien: Romulus 2’s Narrative
Alien: Covenant was conceived as part of a multi-film arc, with Ridley Scott planning potentially two or three more prequels to follow Prometheus. The cooler reception to Covenant caused those ambitions to fade over time. Meanwhile, the 2020s saw Disney’s acquisition of Fox and a revisiting of a more traditional Alien story, culminating in Alien: Romulus. Scott’s own commitment to continuing his prequel series wavered, alternating between statements of finality and openness to new ideas within the Alien universe.
another Alien prequel – yeah, if I get an idea, for sure.
– Ridley Scott
Typically, a franchise of Alien’s size can support multiple storylines without major impact on continuity. However, because Scott’s prequels are so deeply intertwined with the fundamental Alien mythology, their unfinished state poses a narrative challenge. Though Alien: Romulus stands as a strong film in its own right, the lingering mysteries from Scott’s saga inevitably color how audiences interpret it.
Questions about the xenomorphs’ true nature and David’s whereabouts linger as shadows over Romulus. Fede Álvarez acknowledged this through subtle references like the inclusion of Prometheus’ black goo, yet resolving those threads falls outside his scope. Alien: Romulus 2 now confronts the same challenge of building its story amid unresolved antecedent lore.
Viewers and fans naturally strive to connect the dots between older and newer films, aiming to integrate existing mythology to maintain continuity. For a shared universe like Alien’s, providing clarity and resolution is crucial to differentiate it from a mere reboot. Until Ridley Scott completes the foundational narrative begun in his prequels, every subsequent Alien installment carries the weight of unanswered questions.
This unresolved prequel story acts as an unavoidable backdrop, influencing how fans receive new entries. The anticipation of whether these films will eventually clarify the decade-old mysteries surrounding the Engineers, David’s ambitions, and the xenomorphs themselves keeps audiences both intrigued and unsettled, affecting the overall momentum of the franchise moving forward.
