Alien: Romulus CGI Sparks Ethical Debate

The use of CGI to recreate the late Ian Holm's character Ash as Rook in Fede Alvarez's Alien: Romulus was widely criticized for being distracting and unrealistic. Despite the film's box office success and positive critical reception, fans were vocal about their dissatisfaction with the CGI, prompting Alvarez to 'fix' the issues for the home release by emphasizing practical effects over digital ones. Alvarez acknowledged the shortcomings due to time constraints in post-production and has since improved the appearance by reverting more to animatronics. However, reactions to the updated version remain mixed, with many viewers still questioning the necessity of digitally resurrecting Holm at all. The film, which serves as an 'interquel' in the Alien franchise, has spurred discussions about the ethics of using CGI to recreate deceased actors. Despite the backlash, Alien: Romulus has revitalized interest in the franchise, grossing over $350 million globally.