Director Fede Álvarez fought Disney to keep Romulus’ extreme ending

“Alien: Romulus” director Fede Álvarez revealed he had to engage in a battle of wills with Disney executives to retain the movie’s original ending. The dispute arose over a particularly unsettling scene toward the film’s conclusion, which Disney found contentious.

Álvarez discussed the conflict in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. The director insisted that as a creator of horror films, it was his responsibility to maintain the integrity of his vision.

According to Álvarez, Disney was uncomfortable with the ending sequence not because they disliked it, but because they felt it might be excessively intense. This scene involves the character Rain, played by Cailee Spaeny, facing off against a horrific new monster dubbed the “Offspring.”

“So when I get pushback, that’s really when I go, ‘Okay, that’s good. We’re on track. The studio is pushing back on it,'” Álvarez explained. He interpreted Disney’s hesitation as a sign that the film was effectively pushing boundaries.

The director felt that making an “Alien” movie for a Disney-owned corporation inherently meant pushing the limits. If there was no resistance, it might indicate failure to capture the true essence of the horror genre and the legacy of the “Alien” franchise.

Álvarez’s confidence was rewarded. The controversial ending sparked extensive discussion among fans, highlighting the sequence’s impactful intensity. More importantly, “Alien: Romulus” achieved commercial success, grossing $108 million worldwide during its opening weekend.

The film, a follow-up to the original “Alien,” centers on young scavengers who infiltrate an abandoned space station to pilfer equipment essential for their escape from a grim mining colony. Inside, they stumble upon evidence of horrifying experiments conducted on Xenomorphs by the station’s owning corporation, setting the stage for a desperate fight for survival.

Rain’s climactic battle against the Offspring, the crux of the dispute, ultimately became a highlight of the movie. The scene’s powerful execution underscored Álvarez’s vision and justified his determination to keep it unchanged.

The financial success of “Alien: Romulus” is a testament to Álvarez’s efforts. According to Forbes, the movie not only fared well internationally but also outperformed “Deadpool & Wolverine” in the US market. With a production budget of $80 million, the film has already recouped its costs and appears headed for profitability.

This outcome represents another victory for Disney, adding a strong entry to the storied “Alien” franchise. The film’s success reaffirms the importance of creative integrity and the impact of standing firm on artistic decisions, even when faced with corporate hesitation.

By pushing back against the studio’s concerns, Álvarez delivered a movie that resonates with both fans and at the box office, solidifying “Alien: Romulus” as a notable addition to the sci-fi horror genre.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Collider, Business Insider