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Creating a film as iconic as Alien: Romulus comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when it involves reimagining beloved characters. Director Fede Alvarez faced such a challenge with the introduction of Rook, an android based on Ian Holm’s Ash from the original Alien.
A still from Alien: Romulus | Credits: 20th Century StudiosWhile the film captivated audiences, some fans were left questioning the character’s appearance. On the same topic, the filmmaker has recently opened up about the process of refining Rook for the home release. So, what changes did he make to improve the character’s look?
What made Fede Alvarez rethink Rook’s CGI in Alien: Romulus?
In Alien: Romulus, Fede Alvarez brought new life to the Alien franchise, mixing classic sci-fi elements with fresh ideas. One of the standout features of the movie was the android character Rook, who was brought to life through CGI. Not only that, but the character was based on the late Ian Holm’s portrayal of Ash in the original Alien.
Fede Alvarez | Credits: Gage Skidmore | CCA 2.0/Wikimedia CommonsHowever, not all viewers were happy with how Rook looked, and the filmmaker recently shared his thoughts on the issue. Talking to Empire, he admitted that some of the CGI shots didn’t meet his expectations. He said:
We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. I wasn’t 100 per cent happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention. So, for people that react negatively, I don’t blame them.
The digital recreation of Holm’s character didn’t turn out as polished as he had hoped. To make things right, Alvarez worked on improving Rook’s appearance for the home release. In the same conversation, he added:
We fixed it. We made it better for the release right now. I convinced the studio we need to spend the money and make sure we give the companies that were involved in making it the proper time to finish it and do it right. It’s so much better.
The key to the improvements was revisiting the character’s creation process, which originally combined practical effects with CGI. Alvarez decided to rely more on practical elements, like a puppet head of Ian Holm created by Shane Mahan, to make Rook look more realistic.
Thanks to these adjustments, Alien: Romulus is now getting a more polished version of Rook, and the filmmaker’s dedication to getting it right will surely please the die-hard fans of the franchise.
What did Ridley Scott tell Fede Álvarez before filming Alien: Romulus?
Ridley Scott | Credits: Gage Skidmore | CCA 2.0/Wikimedia CommonsBefore stepping behind the camera for Alien: Romulus, Fede Alvarez received a memorable piece of advice from Ridley Scott, the legendary director who introduced the world to the terrifying Xenomorphs with the 1979 classic Alien. Scott, who is widely regarded as the mind behind the franchise’s iconic vision, sent the filmmaker a short yet impactful message as the director prepared to take on his own chapter of the Alien saga.
The note read “Good luck. Good health. Good hunting. Don’t f**k up. Very best.” This blunt but supportive message highlighted the weight of the responsibility Álvarez faced in reviving the Alien franchise. The note, filled with both well-wishes and a little humor, was shared by Álvarez himself on Instagram.
Set between the events of the original Alien and Aliens, Alien: Romulus carries forward the tradition of bringing fresh perspectives to the series while honoring its iconic past.
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