Alien: Romulus CGI Updated for Home, Fans Still Dissatisfied

Alien: Romulus' Controversial CGI Scene Gets Home Release Update

While Alien: Romulus earned praise from critics and fans alike while becoming a box office success, one element drew near-universal criticism - the CGI recreation of the late Ian Holm's character Ash.

Holm, who passed away in 2020, originally portrayed the sinister android in Ridley Scott's Alien. His digital return in the "interquel" Romulus proved so jarring that some fans created edits removing the character entirely.

A Director's Admission

Director Fede Álvarez acknowledged the visual shortcomings in an Empire interview: "We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. Some shots felt too CG-heavy, and I completely understand the negative reactions."

The Home Release Fix

For the digital and Blu-ray versions, Álvarez pushed for improvements: "We convinced the studio to invest in proper fixes. The team had the time needed to refine it properly - it's significantly better now."

The updated version relies more on practical puppet work than full CGI, though fan reactions remain mixed. Reddit user Kwtwo1983 noted: "Better, but still uncanny... and ultimately unnecessary." Others like TheUrPigeon added: "They can only improve so much when the concept itself was flawed."

"Both versions look bad - one's just darker," observed Worried_Bowl_9489 on Reddit

A Franchise Reinvigorated

Despite the controversy, Alien: Romulus grossed $350 million worldwide, prompting 20th Century Studios to develop a sequel that may reunite the creative team.

The franchise's future looks bright, even if the digital resurrection of classic characters remains a divisive creative choice.