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

Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, spawned a sequel, yet one element drew widespread criticism: the CGI depiction of Ian Holm. Holm, famed for portraying Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien, controversially returned via CGI in this "interquel," resulting in distracting and unrealistic visuals that prompted a popular fan edit removing his character entirely.

Director Fede Alvarez acknowledged the shortcomings, stating in an Empire interview that post-production time constraints hampered the CGI's refinement. He admitted dissatisfaction with certain shots revealing the digital intervention, understanding the negative reactions.

However, the home release features improved visuals. Alvarez secured additional funding to refine the CGI, shifting towards a greater reliance on practical puppetry. While some consider the improvements slight, many still find Holm's appearance distracting, and debate persists regarding the necessity of his inclusion.

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Fan reactions to the revised CGI are mixed. Reddit discussions reveal ongoing concerns about the uncanny valley effect, with comments such as "Better, but still awfully uncanny… and for no sound reason" and "Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie…" highlighting persistent dissatisfaction. Comparisons show the home release utilizes more practical effects, minimizing the overtly digital appearance. Despite the improvements, criticism persists regarding the decision to digitally resurrect the deceased actor.

Despite the controversy surrounding Holm's portrayal, Alien: Romulus achieved significant box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is under consideration by 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.