The following contains spoilers for Alien: Romulus, now playing in theaters
Summary
Alien: Romulusintroduces an entirely new form of the Xenomorph, with a grisly origin that ties it to the greater scope of the franchise as a whole. One of the big reveals ofAlien: Romulusis the way the film connects to previous entries in the series, ranging from films likeAlientoPrometheus. While much of the film is positioned as a group of young adults at the wrong place at the wrong time, the specifics of what the Weyland-Yutani company did in the unseenmoments of theAlientimeline, setting up a new status quo for the franchise.
A new creation that could transform the entire galaxy in horrifying ways comes into play inAlien: Romulus' ending, and serves as the final threat of the film. With a nightmarish design, unique origin, and bizarre fusion of several different species, the new Xenomorph offspring is a monstrosity that even previous Xenomorph variants can’t quite match. The film even builds in a way for the creatures to return in future entries, or be contained to this film’s narrative. Here’s howAlien: Romulus' characterslead to the creation of a new Hybrid Xenomorph that could become the franchise’s darkest threat.
Ridley Scott’s Hope For Future Alien Movies Must Mean Romulus Is Actually Great
Ridley Scott’s praise for Fede Álvarez and his direction of Alien: Romulus is promising for the movie and the science-fiction franchise’s future.
The Origin Of Alien: Romulus' New Xenomorph Offspring Explained
The New Xenomorph ConnectsAlien,Prometheus, AndAlien: Romulus
The variant Xenomorph seen inAlien: Romulusis a horrifying hybridthat fuses several types of anatomy together, and comes into existence through the film’s connections toAlienandPrometheus.Alien: Romuluslargely takes place on a seemingly abandoned space station, which is revealed to have years earlier collected the Xenomorph fromAlien. Experimentation on the creature byIan Holm’s Rookresulted in the development of a new compound. Resembling theblack goo used by the Engineers inPrometheus, the compound is meant to improve humanity and amplify their physical traits so they can survive while expanding into space.
However, when injected into the pregnant Kay,the compound instead transforms her unborn baby into a new life-form. Born within an egg and quickly maturing into a more mature state, the offspring is an unsettling fusion of features that makes it progenitors obvious. Pale like the Engineers and with elongated human appendages, the hybrid is feral enough to lash out at anything near it, but clever enough to hunt Rain throughout the ship. It bears many hallmarks of the Xenomorph, steadily growing a tail and developing a lanky and tall body. The creature has some human features, making it incredibly unsettling.
How Alien: Romulus' Xenomorph Hybrid Is Different From Other Versions
This New Alien Is Born In A Completely Different Way
The new Xenomorph hybrid is a first for the series in several ways. As opposed to previous hybrid Xenomorphs like the Predalien fromAVPR: Alien vs Predator - Requiemor the genetically modified Ripley/Xenomorph clone inAlien: Resurrection, the new Xenomorph offspring is actually born. Unlike the rest of the Xenomorphs, which infect a host and then burst from the body to grow at an enhanced rate,the new hybrid Xenomorph bursts from an egg that grew inside one ofAlien: Romulus' characters, Kay. The impact of the serum can’t be understated, as it appeared to have transformed her baby.
The hybrid also retains many human qualities, albeit stretched out and in a monstrous form. The creature is more bipedal than the typical Xenomorphs, which will typically shift between standing upright and crawling on all fours. It also has a face that looks reminiscent of a human and an Engineer, allowing it to convey emotions as it stalks through the ship.The creature also seems to drink blood from victimsfor sustenance, and is found by Rain killing Kay by draining her body. These qualities give the hybrid different origins and physical qualities than most Xenomorph race have never possessed.
I’m Excited For Alien: Romulus, But I’m Still Waiting For A Sequel To Divisive $240 Million Movie
While Alien: Romulus promises a thrilling return to the franchise’s sci-fi horror roots, we’re still frustrated that another story hasn’t concluded.
How Strong & Dangerous Alien: Romulus' New Xenomorph Is
The New Xenomorph Hybrid Can Survive A Lot
The new hybrid Xenomorph is a very dangerous creature,proving to be an equal (or potentially even superior) to the Xenomorph. Unlike the Xenomorph, which time to fully grow to maturity, the new Hybrid quickly grows from a baby inside an acidic egg to a towering and lanky frame. The creature is fast enough to move through the ship at times unseen, sneaking around and hunting its victims easily. While the android Andy was strong enough to hold falling elevators one-handed, he is brought down by a single slash to the throat by the creature, which hints at its strength.
Hybrid Xenomorph Offspring
Alien: Romulus
It also possesses a claw within the mouth, similar to the Xenomorph, which it attempts to spear through Rain.The most frightening element of the new hybrid Xenomorph is the impressive enduranceit has. Even forcing the creature out into the vacuum of space into a lethal asteroid field isn’t enough to simply kill it. Despite being physically shredded by Rain emptying it with tons of sand into the vacuum of space, the creature is able to hold on with its tail and continue the the attack. It’s able to endure damage that killed previous Xenomorphs, and is barely defeated.
What Alien: Romulus Means For The Future Of The New Xenomorph Hybrids
The Ending OfAlien: RomulusCould Set Up More Xenomorph Offspring
Alien: Romulustakes a huge step forward for the iconic horror creature, introducing an entire new approach and version of the monster.It’s one that successfully fuses the different approaches to the series, firmly connecting the events ofAliento the discoveries and advancements ofPrometheus. If the compounds were to be used on other people, they could lead to more mutated creatures like the Xenomorph Hybrid, transforming an off-shoot of humanity into its greatest threat. The new Xenomorph offspring might have additional attributes that make it more dangerous, with the creature also possibly retaining the acidic blood of the Xenomorph.
While the Xenomorphs are an effective predator, they take time and often hunt in packs.By contrast, the hybrid seems to take vicious glee in dispatching people and hunting down Rain. The Xenomorph Hybrid being derived in part from much more conventionally intelligent creatures might make it a far more cerebral threat. Now that the hybrid has been established and the compound that created it is seemingly still on the ship carrying Rain and a wounded Andy to safety,Alien: Romulus' new Xenomorph offspring could be easily reintroduced and could easily become a more reoccurring threat in theAlienuniverse.
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.
