Why Alien: Romulus switched from streaming to cinema release

As a die-hard Alien fan who has witnessed the evolution of this terrifying franchise since its inception, I must say that the upcoming film “Alien: Romulus” has piqued my interest like no other. The fact that it was initially intended for streaming but eventually made its way to the big screen is a testament to its potential greatness.


Alien: Romulus is unleashed in cinemas this weekend, but it wasn’t always intended to be that way.

Back in March of this year, it was initially planned that the “Alien: Romulus” movie would be a Hulu exclusive and stream directly. Sort of like how “Prey,” the Predator prequel, did. But here’s the twist, while Prey stuck with its original streaming-only plan, Alien: Romulus changed gears when filming began, opting for a big screen release instead.

As a gamer, I’ve always had faith that my Alien film would grace the silver screen, just like I trust my high scores will be appreciated in the gaming community.

He explained to Digital Spy that the project likely began in 2021 as, at that time, there was no active theatre business. It had only been a year or so after COVID, and at that point, there seemed to be little hope for theatres to reopen.

Why Alien: Romulus switched from streaming to cinema release

It appears that most of what the studio and others were engaged in back then pointed towards streaming. In fact, even “Dune” was released for streaming. Therefore, it seems that this shift to streaming was inevitable.

“The team felt certain that we would need to adapt our approach, and quickly. At one point, we even had a script, and everyone understood that it wouldn’t be intended for streaming. I’m happy it won’t be limited to viewing on mobile devices.”

Following the intense initial responses to “Alien: Romulus”, it’s likely that Disney is relieved that it won’t only be available for their streaming service.

Why Alien: Romulus switched from streaming to cinema release

Prior to its launch, Alvarez hinted to Digital Spy that the ending of “Alien: Romulus” is quite disturbing or unconventional.

He described it as quite intense. What makes it interesting is that it’s unpredictable. If you’ve watched my other films, they often have multiple conclusions, and I always feel like it’s wrapping up but it continues. Towards the very end, we really ramp things up, especially during the last few minutes.

The director has additionally explained where the movie fits within the Alien saga timeline, while also unveiling the symbolic significance behind its title.

Alien: Romulus is released in cinemas on August 16.

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2024-08-15 11:49

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