Discover how the iconic Xenomorph was brought to life in Alien: Romulus
Los Angeles: Alien: Romulus is set to hit Disney+ on January 15, and it’s expected to be a big hit, just like the original Xenomorph. The way they brought this creature to life is pretty cool.
Director Fede Álvarez wanted to keep that classic Alien vibe, so he brought back some legends from the Aliens team, Alec Gillis and Shane Mahan, to help create the Xenomorphs, facehuggers, and chestbursters.
At a press conference, Álvarez shared how amazing it was to work with them again. He emphasized the importance of practical effects, saying, “If it can be done practically, it should be.” He’s not a fan of relying too much on CGI, which he thinks can be lazy.
He explained that using a one-ton animatronic might take a lot of time, but the payoff is worth it when you see it in action. For close-ups with facial expressions, they used animatronics, while performers handled the more dynamic movements.
Gillis and Mahan, who both worked on the 1986 film Aliens, teamed up again for this project. Álvarez wanted to involve multiple companies for the creature effects, which is pretty rare in film production.
He was thrilled to see Gillis and Mahan working together again, especially since they used to compete but are like brothers. Mahan hadn’t worked on a Xenomorph since Aliens, and he was excited to put the dome back on the creature, which had been removed in earlier films.
Álvarez loved seeing them collaborate, especially when they needed extra hands for puppeteering. It was a dream come true for him to see them working side by side.
His goal was to make everything feel real for the audience. He believes that movies should aim to make viewers feel like what they’re seeing is genuine, unlike some modern films that don’t focus on that realism.
Alien: Romulus is all about making you believe in the creature, and that’s what makes it work. Get ready for its premiere on Disney+ on January 15!
