There has been a lot of anticipation for the release of “Alien: Romulus”. The latest film project based on the legendary horror/sci-fi saga based on desperate escapes and alien hunts has seen the directorial role handed over from Ridley Scott to the young and talented Fede Alvarez, also remembered for the excellent remake of “The Evil Dead”.

With the aim of bringing the franchise back to its former prestige, the challenge was to create a title that was conservative in form and bold in content, bringing to life a synthesis between the emotions experienced with the first chapter and the potential of the most modern technologies. The result, before everyone's eyes, exceeded the most optimistic forecasts : "Alien: Romulus" recorded sensational numbers at its debut, climbing to the top of the national charts over the weekend with a gross of 45.1 million dollars and exceeding initial forecasts that pointed to a more modest debut of 20 million.

Such a milestone marks the film as the second best opening of the franchise, and it takes the first place held until last week by “Deadpool & Wolverine”. Another comforting aspect is that the title has managed to attract a good part of the younger audience, in addition to the hard core of fans who grew up with the saga. The box office results also mark the best result of the summer season for the Disney giant, with 42% of the total takings. As for the numbers in the remaining international markets, the film has obtained an equally satisfactory opening, with 66.7 million dollars which, added to the revenues of the American market, amount to a total of 108.2 million dollars.

Set between the first “Alien” in 1979 and the sequel “Aliens” in 1986, “Alien: Romulus” revisits the original setting to further explore its diegetic universe , in a dystopian future where threats from the most remote corners of the cosmos mix with the dark interests of mega corporations.

To get a glimpse of the essentials of the plot, the synopsis provides the following details: "This sci-fi/horror thriller takes the phenomenal Alien franchise back to its roots: while delving into the depths of an abandoned space station, a group of young space colonists come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe."

In addition to convincing audiences in theaters, the title has collected numerous positive feedback from specialized critics , who have agreed in recognizing it as a worthy heir to the franchise. With over 95 written reviews and about 80% of positive judgments, among the comments we read for example that the film: «Honoring its nightmarish predecessors while at the same time filling the chest with new scares, Romulus injects some fresh blood into one of cinema's great horror franchises».

And what about the near future? Although he hasn't yet won a slew of awards, Fede Alvarez seems determined to return behind the camera as soon as possible. Among his first choices is to make a new chapter of "Alien vs. Predator", but the conditions for the title to see the light are not simple: the only way to see him involved in the project is to co-direct it with Tratchenberg, director of "Prey" released in 2022 and prequel to "Predator". On this possibility, Alvarez released the following considerations to Deadline: "Maybe we should do what Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez did with From Dusk Till Dawn. I will direct half and he will direct the other half". The chances of the film being made will also depend on the interest that the public will demonstrate and the box office results of "Alien: Romulus". But given the excellent opening of the latter, we can confidently believe that the saga will continue for a long time and will soon return to make us tremble in front of the screen.

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