Alien: Romulus 'Fixed' Terrible Ian Holm CGI for Home Release but Fans Still Think It’s Pretty Bad

Alien: Romulus, a critical and commercial success, has already spurred a sequel. However, one element consistently criticized was the CGI depiction of Ian Holm.

Holm, who passed away in 2020, famously portrayed 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 completely remove his character.

Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, stating in an Empire interview that post-production time constraints prevented perfecting the CGI. He acknowledged the negative reactions, admitting dissatisfaction with certain shots.

Alien Film Chronology

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For the home release, Alvarez confirmed improvements, emphasizing increased use of practical puppetry over CGI. While some improvement is noted, many fans still find Holm's appearance distracting, with some questioning the necessity of his inclusion.

A Reddit thread (u/Davidedby in LV426) highlights this mixed reaction: comments range from noting slight improvements to maintaining strong disapproval of the CGI and even the character's presence.

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

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The home release version subtly alters the shots, showcasing more of the practical effects and reducing the prominence of the CGI face. However, criticism persists regarding the overall execution and the decision to include Holm's character.

Despite the criticism, Alien: Romulus's box office success ($350 million globally) has greenlit a sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.