Alien: Romulus connection to Alien explained, and all the Alien Easter eggs you might have missed
Aug. 16, 2024Alien: Romulus is full of nods
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Alien: Romulusmarks a new chapter in the Alien franchise as it deepens the story between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Following a group of cadets who go on an unsanctioned scavenging mission to a deserted space station, the new Fede Alvaraz-directed sci-fi horror is full of twists and turns. As you might imagine, their journey goes awry when they encounter some familiar creatures lurking in the shadows…
However, not only does Alien: Romulus tell a new story set in this world, but it also contains some major references to the wider franchise. In particular, Ridley Scott’s Alien is one of the main calling points for the new movie, and there are some very intriguing links drawn between the two. We get into thespoiler-filled detailsof those below, as well as breaking down some of the major Easter eggs you might not have spotted in the latest entry.
We’ve also got guides on how to watch theAlien movies in orderand whatmovies and shows to watch before Alien: Romulustoo.
How is Alien: Romulus connected to Alien?
Alien: Romulus is set 20 years after the events of Alien and the destruction of the Nostromo. When the crew arrives on the Renaissance vessel, we learn more about the connection between the two. In their search for fuel in order to allow the pods to make the journey to Yvaga, half of the cadets find themselves trapped inside a cryo-chamber filled with alien eggs.
In order to free them, Rain (Cailee Spaeny) uses the chip from the ship’s android to give her brother Andy (David Jonsson) the security clearance to be able to open the doors. It turns out the synthetic they take this from is a model variation of Ash from the original Alien called Rook (played by the late Ian Holm here too). After the danger subsides (momentarily), he explains to the group what exactly their mission was on the Renaissance base, and it turns out it links directly to Alien.
The science officer says they spent 1770 days after Ripley sent the xenomorph out of her escape pod into space looking for the creature. This was part of Weyland-Yutani’s mission, which started in Prometheus, to find the perfect being and use its DNA to save the future of humanity. They succeeded in securing its DNA, which is called the Prometheus File, but were unable to bring it to the company before they all died.
That’s not the only link to the Alien movie in Alien: Romulus though, as there are several big callbacks to the 1979 film – from Rook’s lines about the xenomorph being a “perfect organism”, to a drinking bird toy hidden in Andy and Rain’s dinner scene.
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Several of the biggest references came in the final scene of the movie on the Crubellon when Rain goes full Ripley. At one point, she gets into a space suit in almost a mirror version of Alien’s scene, before she uses a very similar method to get ‘The Offspring’ out of her ship. Her final pilot’s log callout also is eerily similar to Ripley’s, at times even verbatim.
These aren’t the only nods to the wider franchise in the movie either, as there are a whole load of Easter eggs as well. Read on for our breakdown of those below.
Alien: Romulus is out in theaters now – read ourAlien: Romulus review. For more, check out our guide to theAlien: Romulus ending explainedand our breakdown of thatAlien: Romulus cameo.
I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I’ve also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.
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