Romulus is Disney’s third success, something sci-fi fans didn’t think was possible

The sinister creature from another world is back on the big screen. Alien: Romulus is the seventh entry in the Alien series (the ninth if we count all the Predator crossovers) and the Completion of an exciting renewal cyclewhich has taken place in recent years at the film studio 20th Century Studios, formerly known as 20th Century Fox.

In 2019, Fox was acquired by Disney, bringing some Brands from the Fox catalog went directly to Disney. What that means in practice is currently demonstrated by Deadpool & Wolverine, in which Marvel characters from old Fox films save the world in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is based at Disney. But brand preservation goes far beyond comic blockbusters. And this is where Alien comes into play again.

Alien, Predator and Planet of the Apes: Three of the most iconic film series have successfully returned

Along with Planet of the Apes and Predator, Alien is one of the three major sci-fi series from Fox, whose history stretches back several decades. What the three series also have in common: They are aimed at an adult audience, were set in a brittle condition or were – as in the case of Planet of the Apes – ended after a successful revival.

Disney has nevertheless made it its mission to renew all three brands.

The status quo of the Fox sci-fi series in 2019:

Although it should come as no surprise that Disney has chosen these three popular Fox brands for new films, the scepticism was greatPlanet of the Apes had a really strong finale and how on earth was the family-friendly studio supposed to put together a nerve-wracking sci-fi horror film with an R rating? There wasn’t much confidence. But it worked three times.

With Prey (2022), Planet of the Apes: New Kingdom (2024) and now Alien: Romulus, Disney has successfully and – more importantly – convincingly brought back Fox’s three iconic sci-fi series. Even the battered Predator was able to break free from its Upgrade relax. Particularly exciting: All three films follow the same tacticThey have taken a step back to regather the essence of their ranks.

Every franchise should be inspired by the courage with which Prey brought the Predator back to life

This is most clearly seen in Prey, which was theoretically already floating around in director Dan Trachtenberg’s head before the Disney-Fox merger. At the end of 2019, the project became concrete – under the Working title SkullsThe premise: A Comanche woman goes against the traditions of her tribe to prove herself as a warrior. As for the space hunter? Hardly any trace to be found at first.

Prey has done everything it can to avoid being identified as a Predator film. The action is set centuries in the past, where bows were drawn and tomahawks were wielded. A contrast to the musclemen and firearms previously associated with the series. The unfamiliar setting was a good way to bring the familiar movie monster out of ar new perspective to consider.

As an inspired alternative to nostalgia-driven franchise cinema, Prey feels more refreshing than almost any other soft reboot. At the same time, the film retains the central elements the predecessor: We follow a life-and-death hunt in which two – at first glance unequal – parties come together. The risk was worth it: the next film, Predator: Badlands, is already in production.

Planet of the Apes and Alien carry the spirit of Prey and are great representatives of their series

New Kingdom and Romulus are not as radical as Prey. Nevertheless, both films cleverly position themselves outside the core of the franchise and find Side entries into the storiesWhile New Kingdom jumps 300 years into the future and negotiates the legacy of the Caesar saga, Romulus functions as a mostly standalone adventure between the first two Alien films.

Extensive prior knowledge is not necessary for any of the films. New Kingdom and Romulus are incredibly good at appealing to both fans and newcomers and Advantages of the series in the best light from the astonishing CGI work on the apes in New Kingdom to the grandiose space horror of the fight for survival in the claustrophobic corridors of the Romulus.

Admittedly, New Kingdom is built on a solid foundation, as the Planet of the Apes series was in very good shape. The question here was more what the new film could add to the reboot trilogy. Prey and Romulus had to do a lot more convincing, coming from a Rubble of failed franchise plans and had to create curiosity for the brands again.

The excellent sci-fi trio Prey, Romulus and New Kingdom shows the Terminator series how it’s done

Instead of summoning this curiosity with superlatives, both productions have shifted down a gear, which, among other things, becomes clear in the budgets. At $65 million and $80 million, Prey and Romulus are below the average for current sci-fi blockbusters, which often go in the direction of New Kingdom’s $160 million. In other words: less financial pressure, more creative freedom.

In addition, Disney has recognized that these films are their greatest potential in cinema unfold. Both Prey and Romulus were first announced as streaming exclusives. Prey actually came to Hulu and Disney+ during the pandemic. But the next Predator spin-off is a different story. And Romulus was lucky: the course correction took place before filming began. Now the film is thriving on the big screen.

Predator, Planet of the Apes and Alien have done everything right with their new films, which is also the case with the Terminator series and its three (!) half-baked reboot attempts went wrong. Terminator: Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate in particular are prime examples of what happens when a studio tries to keep a popular brand alive at all costs.

If we cannot escape franchise cinema, then at least with films that understand their identity so well like Prey, New Kingdom and Romulus. Each of the sci-fi adventures feels like an arrow that has hit the bullseye when it comes to what a good new film in the series could look like – sometimes with more, sometimes with less risk, but always full of conviction in its own strengths.