'Alien: Romulus' | What Does Romulus Mean?

Alien: Romulus2024

Set to release in August 2024, "Alien: Romulus" is the seventh installment in the "Alien" film series. Positioned as an independent interlude between the 1979 film "Alien" and its 1986 sequel "Aliens," the movie follows a group of young space colonists and scavengers who encounter the most terrifying life forms in the universe at an abandoned space station. Directed by Federico Alvarez and produced by Ridley Scott, the film stars Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced, and David Jonsson, among others.

Unlike "Prometheus" (2012) and "Alien: Covenant" (2017), which were prequels, "Alien: Romulus" revisits the timeline between the 1979 film "Alien" and its 1986 sequel "Aliens." Thus, it's worth revisiting these two classic works.

Released in 1979, "Alien" tells the story of the starship Nostromo, a Weyland-Yutani Corporation mining vessel, receiving a distress signal from the planet LV-426 en route. Several crew members investigate and discover alien eggs aboard an abandoned alien spacecraft. Kane, one of the crew members, is attacked by a Facehugger, leading to the birth of a Xenomorph. Ripley, the sole survivor, ultimately defeats the creature and escapes in a shuttle.

In contrast, "Aliens," set in 2179, follows Ripley after 57 years as she returns to LV-426, now a Weyland-Yutani Corporation terraforming colony known as Hadleys Hope. Chaos ensues after a family unwittingly discovers the derelict alien spacecraft, resulting in the colony's destruction. Ripley joins a group of Marines to investigate.

From the teaser for "Alien: Romulus," little is revealed about the plot, except that it involves a group of young space colonists and scavengers facing off against a horde of aliens at an abandoned space station. However, based on "Alien" and "Aliens," one could speculate that the film takes place during the 57-year gap between the two movies, possibly exploring the transformation of LV-426 into Hadley Hope or the discovery of Ripley by the inhabitants of Romulus. Given recent trends of leveraging nostalgia in major film IPs, the latter scenario will likely involve Sigourney Weaver reprising her role through computer-generated imagery.

However, "Alien: Romulus" could also explore the transformation of LV-426 into Hadley Hope, with the key lying in the name Romulus. Like "Prometheus," which draws from Greek mythology, Romulus derives from Roman mythology. According to legend, Romulus and Remus, twin brothers, were the sons of the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia and the god Mars (equivalent to the Greek god Ares). Romulus became the first king of Rome during its monarchy, making him the city's founder. Thus, linking Romulus to the founding of Hadley Hope is plausible.

Romulus's death is also legendary. After ruling Rome for 38 years, Romulus vanished during a storm at the Campus Martius. Some claimed he ascended to become the god Quirinus, while others speculated the Senate murdered him. Regardless of whether mythical or tragic, Romulus's fate may hint after "Alien: Romulus."