Fede Álvarez is the filmmaker who revived the Alien franchise with Alien: Romulus, and he has officially confirmed that he won’t be directing the sequel. Instead, Álvarez is going to step back and let a new, unnamed voice take over (via TooFab).
We just finished the script, actually, for a sequel for Romulus. But I’m gonna pass the torch on this one as director. I’m going to produce it, with Ridley Scott, we’re gonna produce it together and we’re right now trying to find a new filmmaker to come in.
Alien: Romulus was released in 2024 and was both a critical and commercial success. After writing the script for the sequel with Rodo Sayagues, Álvarez will stay attached to the second installment as a producer, alongside Ridley Scott.
Here’s an overview of Alien: Romulus:
| Title | Alien: Romulus |
| Genre | Sci-fi / Horror |
| Director | Fede Álvarez |
| Cast Highlights | Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn |
| Rotten Tomatoes (critic score | audience score) | 80% | 85% |
So, allow us to explain the reason behind Álvarez not returning for a second part, and why that might be the best thing for the franchise!
Why Fede Álvarez Likely Stepped Away From the Alien: Romulus Sequel?
It doesn’t seem like Fede Álvarez’s decision not to sit in the director’s chair for the sequel has anything to do with abandoning the story he started, or not being interested enough, because the continuation is rather underwhelming. From what Álvarez has said so far, it’s likely about timing, creative philosophy, and personal projects.
While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Álvarez made it clear that he believes sequels should take time to breathe. He said, “My philosophy is that you should never make [a sequel] in two years. You’ve got to get away. You’ve got to get the audience to really want it.”
Álvarez is also juggling other personal and professional commitments that are not linked to Alien. He told TooFab about wanting to focus on other passion projects that he’s been developing with his co-writer.
Most importantly, he seems to understand how the franchise has worked for years. Álvarez highlighted one tradition, saying, “I think that’s usually what has happened, except for Ridley, filmmakers come, you make one, and you pass the baton to the next one.” As in, filmmakers usually come in, add their flair to one Alien movie, and then make space for a new creative.
Could the Alien: Romulus Sequel Benefit From a Fresh Creative Voice?
History shows that new directors have often reinvented the Alien franchise. It all started with Ridley Scott’s 1979 movie, which set the terrifying tone, and then James Cameron flipped the script with Aliens in 1986, turning it into an action-packed war thriller.
David Fincher stepped in for Alien 3, and though the film wasn’t well-received upon its release, it’s now treated like a cult classic. Then Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Alien: Resurrection was praised for its surreal visuals.
The point is how each director left a mark on the franchise; it could be groundbreaking or controversial, but it was always distinct! This made room for reinvention, and the Alien movies never felt redundant, which is what the Alien: Romulus sequel needs!
But what’s your take on this? Should Fede Álvarez have stayed on to direct? Or is it better to keep passing the torch?
You can watch all the Alien movies on Hulu (USA).
