Alien: Romulus Improves Ian Holm CGI for Home Release, Yet Fans Remain Unimpressed

*Alien: Romulus* has been a resounding success, both critically and at the box office, sparking excitement for a sequel. However, one element of the film drew widespread criticism: the CGI used to bring back the late Ian Holm, who originally portrayed the android Ash in Ridley Scott's iconic sci-fi horror, *Alien*. Holm's return via CGI in *Alien: Romulus* was met with disappointment from audiences who found it distracting and unrealistic. The backlash was so significant that a popular fan edit completely removed Holm's character from the film's narrative.

In response to the criticism, director Fede Alvarez acknowledged the issue in an interview with Empire, stating, "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." For the home release of *Alien: Romulus*, Alvarez took steps to rectify the situation. 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."

For the home release, the approach shifted towards more practical puppet work, reducing the reliance on CGI. However, opinions on this updated version are mixed. While some fans noted a slight improvement, many still find Holm's appearance distracting and question the necessity of his return. On Reddit, user Kwtwo1983 remarked, "Better, but still awfully uncanny… and for no sound reason." Thelastcupoftea suggested, "Should’ve messed his face up much more," while Smug_amoeba called it, "Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie." Worried_Bowl_9489 commented, "Both look bad and one is a bit darker lol." TheUrPigeon expressed strong disapproval, 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."

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Despite the CGI controversy, *Alien: Romulus* successfully revitalized the franchise upon its release this past summer, grossing an impressive $350 million globally. The positive reception has led 20th Century Studios to announce plans for *Alien: Romulus 2*, which will continue the story from the first film. Fede Alvarez is in discussions to return as director, promising more thrills for fans of the series.