"Alien: Romulus Fixes Ian Holm's CGI, Fans Still Unimpressed"

The success of *Alien: Romulus* has been a major win for the franchise, captivating both critics and fans alike, and its impressive box office haul of $350 million has paved the way for a sequel. However, the film wasn't without its controversies, particularly the CGI depiction of the late Ian Holm, who reprised his role as android Ash from Ridley Scott's original *Alien*. The CGI used to bring Holm back in *Alien: Romulus* received widespread criticism for being unrealistic and distracting. In fact, the backlash was so significant that a popular fan edit removed Holm's character entirely from the film's narrative.

Director Fede Alvarez acknowledged the issue in an interview with Empire, admitting that the CGI fell short due to time constraints in post-production. He stated, “We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. I wasn’t 100% happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention. So, for people that react negatively, I don’t blame them.” Determined to rectify the situation, Alvarez ensured that the CGI was improved for the home release, focusing more on practical puppet work rather than heavy reliance on CGI. He explained, “We fixed it. We made it better for the release right now. I convinced the studio we need to spend the money and make sure we give the companies that were involved in making it the proper time to finish it and do it right. It’s so much better.”

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Despite Alvarez's efforts, fans remain divided on whether the updated CGI is a significant improvement. While some appreciate the shift towards more practical effects, others still find Holm's appearance distracting and question the necessity of his inclusion in the film. On Reddit, user Kwtwo1983 remarked, “Better, but still awfully uncanny… and for no sound reason,” while thelastcupoftea suggested, “Should’ve messed his face up much more.” Smug_amoeba lamented, “Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie…” and Worried_Bowl_9489 noted, “Both look bad and one is a bit darker lol.”

The home release version does feature a more subdued CGI presence, focusing more on the practical elements Alvarez mentioned. Yet, some fans, like TheUrPigeon, remain critical, stating, “Let's be real, it's still awful and garish to resurrect a dead man so needlessly. They can only improve upon it so much because the initial effort was so poor.”

Despite the CGI controversy, *Alien: Romulus* successfully revitalized the franchise and has spurred interest in a sequel. In October, 20th Century Studios announced they were developing *Alien: Romulus 2*, which would continue the story from the first film, with Fede Alvarez potentially returning to direct.