Fans can rest assured that they will continue to be seen with the release of Alien: Romulus this year, as well as the highly anticipated Alien: Isolation.
The horror game Alien: Isolation, released in 2014, was widely acclaimed as a masterpiece. It takes place between the events of Alien and Aliens and centers around Amanda, the daughter of Ellen Ripley. Amanda embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind her mother’s sudden disappearance 15 years prior, as she explores a deserted spaceship.
The highly anticipated Alien: Romulus will also be set in a similar timeframe, occurring five years after Amanda’s encounter with the Xenomorphs in Isolation. This has sparked curiosity among fans who are wondering if the popular game will have any connection to the upcoming film.
Alien: Romulus is clearly inspired by Alien: Isolation
Fede Alvarez, the director of Alien: Romulus, has acknowledged the influence of Alien: Isolation on the film. From the beginning, there are clear references to Alien: Isolation in Romulus. In fact, a photo posted by Alvarez shows one of the recognizable phone terminals from the game on the set of Romulus.
Happy #AlienDay everybody! pic.twitter.com/vWyWtThUfj
— Fede Alvarez (@fedalvar) April 26, 2023
The initial Alien: Romulus trailer features the presence of the terminal in the background. In Alien: Isolation, the phone terminals, known as Registration Points, functioned as save points for players to save their progress.
It is evident that Isolation has been a prominent theme for Alvarez during the filming process. In another post on X, he disclosed a collection of books that influenced the creation of Alien: Romlus, including the Alien: Isolation artbook.
In addition, he has shared on social media his passion for gaming, mentioning to a fan that he has completed all of the Alien-themed games except for Alien: Dark Descent, which he was currently playing.
Exploring the Canon of Alien: Isolation
It is uncertain whether Alien: Isolation is considered canon or non-canon. As it takes place between films and does not significantly affect the events of the franchise, it can be easily disregarded. However, it also does not contradict the movies in a way that would deem it non-canon.
Despite the lack of clarification from the developers about its canon status, Alien: Isolation does have ties to the films. The first mention of Amanda Ripley can be found in deleted scenes from Alien. In Aliens, Ellen Ripley is informed that Amanda passed away from cancer during Ellen’s cryosleep.
Amanda Ripley is referenced in Aliens, but the canon status of her adventures in Alien: Isolation and beyond isn’t clear.
Despite the lack of a follow-up game, it is implied that Amanda Ripley continued to have her own adventures. Alien: Romulus takes place shortly after the events of Isolation, where Amanda is forced to eject herself into space to evade a Xenomorph. However, her story is further explored in later novels.
The novel Alien: Colony War, set in 2022, suggests that the version of events surrounding Amanda’s death in Aliens may not be entirely truthful. According to her husband, Chad McLaren, Amanda was actually put into cryosleep as they searched for a cure for her cancer. The story of her death was possibly fabricated in order to keep her safe and hidden.
Similarly to the game, the novels are in a state of limbo regarding their continuity, neither fully confirmed as canon or non-canon. If they are considered canon, it suggests that Amanda could be either venturing through the galaxy or in cryosleep during the events on Romulus. This information hints to devoted fans that Amanda’s journey is far from over and could potentially lead to a meeting between her and Ellen.
It is still a possibility for Alien: Romulus to have direct connections to the story of Alien: Isolation and potentially set up for Amanda’s future return. However, at present, her narrative remains uncertain, leaving the character physically isolated.
The film “Romulus”will be released in theaters on August 16, 2024.
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