Romulus Cameo Resurrecting an Old Character Has Fans Buzzing

Moviegoers who attended the premiere of Alien: Romulus on Friday, August 16, were treated to a plethora of jump scares and surprises, as director Fede Alvarez revived one of the best properties in science fiction on the big screen. One such surprise involved a cameo from an unlikely character.

[Warning: spoilers for Alien: Romulus follow]

One of the most significant reveals in the original 1979 Alien was the twist that Ash, played by the late Ian Holm, was an android. Ash was not only non-human but was sabotaging the crew to hand over the titular alien to the sinister Weyland-Yutani corporation.

In Romulus, a similar android model, although only half of one, plays a crucial role. Named Rook, this character bears Holm’s likeness despite the actor’s passing in 2020. This digital resurrection is reminiscent of how Gareth Edwards “brought back” Governor Tarkin, originally played by Peter Cushing, in Rogue One.

The technique seemingly involved actor Daniel Betts, serving as the “facial and vocal performance” for Rook, while Ian Holm is credited as the “facial and vocal reference” for the Science Officer. Betts’ performance was digitally combined with Holm’s likeness to produce the final visual.

As more details about the process come to light following the movie’s release, the use of Holm’s likeness has already sparked some criticism. This mirrors the mixed reception of Cushing’s digital appearance in Rogue One. Some fans wonder why Lance Henriksen, who played the android Bishop in 1986’s Aliens, wasn’t chosen for this role instead.

Alien: Romulus is in theaters now.