Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, is already slated for a sequel. However, one aspect universally criticized was the CGI depiction of Ian Holm.
Holm, who passed away in 2020, famously portrayed the android Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien. His controversial CGI return in Alien: Romulus was widely deemed distracting and unrealistic, prompting a popular fan edit to entirely remove his character.
Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, stating in an interview with Empire that time constraints during post-production hindered achieving optimal results. He admitted dissatisfaction with certain shots where CGI intervention was noticeable.
Alien Film Timeline
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For the home release, Alvarez confirmed improvements, stating that additional resources were allocated to refine the CGI, resulting in a greater emphasis on practical puppetry. However, fan reactions remain mixed. While some acknowledge minor improvements, many still find the depiction distracting, with some questioning the necessity of Holm's inclusion altogether.
A Reddit thread (u/Davidedby in LV426) highlights these varied opinions: comments range from "Better, but still awfully uncanny" to criticisms of the initial decision to include Holm's character.
The home release version does utilize more practical effects, minimizing the overt CGI, but the overall impact remains a point of contention.
Despite the criticism, Alien: Romulus's $350 million global box office success and 20th Century Studios' announcement of a potential sequel, with Alvarez possibly returning, demonstrate the franchise's continued vitality.
