Alien: Holm’s CGI Repaired, Yet Fans Unswayed

Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, is already slated for a sequel. However, one element 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 drew widespread criticism for being distracting and unrealistic, prompting a popular fan edit to remove his character entirely.

Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, stating in an interview with Empire that time constraints during post-production prevented perfecting the CGI. He acknowledged the negative reactions, stating he wasn't entirely satisfied with some shots.

Alien Film Chronological Order

9 Images

For the home release, Alvarez confirmed improvements, stating additional funds were allocated to refine the CGI, resulting in a greater emphasis on practical puppetry. However, fan reactions remain mixed. While some acknowledge improvement, many still find the portrayal distracting, questioning the necessity of Holm's inclusion.

A Reddit thread (u/Davidedby in LV426) highlights this sentiment: comments range from noting subtle improvements to asserting the CGI remains uncanny and unnecessary.

Alien Romulus - Rook CGI Updates BluRay vs Digital
by u/Davidedby in LV426

.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }

The home release version does feature less prominent CGI, showcasing more of the practical effects. Despite this, the overall consensus is that the result, while slightly better, is still far from perfect, with many criticizing the decision to digitally recreate the deceased actor in the first place.

Despite the CGI controversy, Alien: Romulus achieved significant box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is currently in development at 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.