Alien: Romulus’ Shocking Twist That Almost Mirrored Predator’s Iconic Reveal!

As per director Fede Álvarez, the original plan for “Alien: Romulus” might have started similar to the 1987’s movie “Predator.” Releasing in 2024, “Alien: Romulus” is a spin-off film about a group of young space colonists eager to explore beyond their home. During their scavenging of an old space station, they encounter various extraterrestrial beings. The movie introduced new characters such as Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine and David Jonsson as her adopted android sibling, Andy. Notably, “Alien: Romulus” was the first film in the Alien series to be released since 2017’s “Alien: Covenant.

Romulus had been initially planned, which could have significantly altered the movie’s course.

Alien: Romulus Wouldn’t Have Revealed It Was An Alien Movie

An Alien Egg Would Reveal Alien Franchise’s Connection 30 Minutes In

In an interview with Collider, Fede Álvarez shared that the initial concept for Alien: Romulus was to keep viewers in suspense about it being an Alien film until 30 minutes into the movie. Discussions regarding Alien: Romulus started around the time of Alien: Covenant in 2017, providing ample opportunity to strategize the ideal opening scene for the spin-off film. However, when asked about his ideas for the project, Álvarez suggested, “Why don’t we approach it as a spin-off? Let’s not label it as Alien; instead, let’s use any random science fiction title.” You can find the complete quote below:

Let’s consider it as a spin-off. Instead of using the term ‘Alien,’ let’s choose any sci-fi title. We can depict some young characters and various planets…

The unexpected scene, where characters enter a room to discover an unusual object – a mysterious egg, turned out to be a surprise revelation for the audience at SXSW during the movie’s premiere, 30 minutes in. This shocking moment was part of the original strategy when creating the Alien film.

Initially, Álvarez intended to conceal the connection between “Alien: Romulus” and the franchise by making it appear as a standard sci-fi film with an unremarkable title. However, around the 30-minute mark at SXSW, viewers would have figured out that they were watching an Alien movie due to a scene featuring a room with a mysterious egg. Interestingly, this “30-minute” revelation would have mirrored a plot twist from Alien’s sister franchise, the 1987 Predator film. Despite these initial plans, Alien: Romulus ultimately took a different path.

1987’s Predator Famously Changed Its Genre Mid-Film

The Predator Was Revealed 30 Minutes Into Schwarzenegger’s Movie

1987’s “Predator” marked the beginning of the “Predator” franchise, with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character Dutch heading an elite paramilitary team to rescue hostages from jungle guerrillas. However, the movie took a surprising turn around the 30-minute mark. Instead of focusing solely on Dutch’s mission to save his team, the film unveiled that it was also a science fiction tale. The storyline revealed that the movie wasn’t just about Dutch’s rescue operation; rather, it was about a military unit fighting against a technologically advanced alien hunter from another world, making “Predator” more than just an action flick.

Initially, given Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reputation for action roles, viewers weren’t prepared for the genre shift in the film ‘Predator’. This twist was groundbreaking as it deceived audiences, with signs suggesting another Schwarzenegger action flick. The shocking disclosure of Predator hiding in the rainforest came after the guerrilla fighters were vanquished, revealing a second antagonist. Similarly, if Fede Álvarez had stuck to his original plan for ‘Alien: Romulus’, the 30-minute alien egg scene would have been reminiscent of Predator’s surprise appearance, catchingly misleading audiences about the true nature of the threat.

Why Alien: Romulus’ Predator-Like Twist Wouldn’t Have Worked

Alien: Romulus’ Simple Approach & Franchise Backing Made It Successful

In the proposed scenario for the 2024 Alien movie, introducing an Alien: Romulus’ Predator-like twist wouldn’t have been effective. This is because in 1987, when Predator made its genre shift, it was a groundbreaking move that left audiences stunned. Although Predator’s trailers did hint at the Predator’s presence, many viewers were still taken aback by the film due to the intense focus on guerrilla warfare and build-up without the main antagonist appearing for quite some time. This shock factor was more impactful in 1987 when trailers weren’t as prominent as they are today, allowing Predator to pull off its genre twist successfully.

In today’s world, a surprise twist in a 30-minute segment, like what was intended for Alien: Romulus, might not have been effective because such surprises don’t stay secret for long in this digital era. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine the twist being shared online and spoiling the movie for many viewers. Moreover, one of the reasons Alien: Romulus received positive reviews was due to its straightforward style and similarity to the original Alien. If Álvarez had chosen a Predator-like reveal instead, it wouldn’t have been as closely associated with the Alien franchise, making the movie more complex and potentially less successful, or in other words, it might not have done well at the box office.

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2025-05-23 20:12