Where Alien: Romulus Really Fits On The Timeline – Is It A Sequel Or A Prequel?

Where Alien: Romulus Really Fits On The Timeline - Is It A Sequel Or A Prequel?

As a seasoned gamer and spacefarer, I can confidently say that “Alien: Romulus” is a stellar addition to the Alien franchise, one that harkens back to its terrifying roots while injecting fresh blood into the series. This film, like a well-timed power-up in a game of cosmic survival, has reinvigorated my excitement for this iconic saga.


As a dedicated gamer, I can tell you that after Ridley Scott took us back into the heart-stopping world of “noisy” space with “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” the legendary director passed the reins of the Alien series to Fede Álvarez to craft his own tale. The end product, titled “Alien: Romulus,” breathed new life into the franchise, delivering chills that have been absent for decades. What truly sets this film apart is its commitment to staying true to the spine-tingling roots of the classic sci-fi horror series and employing some of those bone-chilling tactics in today’s world. Given the setting of this specific Alien tale, it was a clever move to bring back those timeless terrors.

Where exactly in the Alien series timeline does “Alien: Romulus” take place? Why should fans get excited about this installment that might make them tear out their chests with anticipation? Well, keep your eyes peeled, explore every nook and cranny, and don’t blindly trust anything that looks like an insulation pipe on the walls – it could be something far more dangerous lurking.

What is Alien: Romulus about?

Where Alien: Romulus Really Fits On The Timeline - Is It A Sequel Or A Prequel?

As a gamer, I’d rephrase that like this: “Much like how ‘Prometheus’ and ‘Alien: Covenant’, the link between ‘Alien: Romulus’ and Ellen Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) epic struggle against the xenomorph lifeforms is tenuous. Fede Álvarez’s film, titled ‘Alien: Romulus’, follows Rain (Cailee Spaeny), a worker on an off-world colony who’s looking after by her late father’s android, Andy (David Jonsson). However, Andy often malfunctions while trying to stick to his programming to ‘prioritize Rain’. A chance for escape comes when they find a ticket out of their current lives.

Unfortunately, Rain and her crew are oblivious to the fact that the vessel they intend to swindle houses some additional inhabitants, a result of a terrifying event from years past. As she struggles to devise an escape plan from Romulus and Remus, Rain must also contend with a persistent chest infection. This challenge only intensifies when Andy is reprogrammed with a new objective that benefits the corporation, a directive instigated by the android Rook (a character hinted at in the “Alien: Romulus” appearance we should discuss), whose commands would persist throughout the Alien series, continuing to be issued.

Alien: Romulus is both a sequel and a prequel

Where Alien: Romulus Really Fits On The Timeline - Is It A Sequel Or A Prequel?

At the outset of the film “Alien: Romulus”, it’s clear that events here are continuations or consequences of a significant episode in the Alien series, as turmoil ensues due to prior occurrences. Rain and Andy find themselves grappling with the fallout and scientific investigation orchestrated by a corporation that lost control over their latest finding. Subsequently, faces are attacked, androids dismantled, and dangerous bloodshed erupts, exacerbating problems for this now deserted vessel.

What sets “Romulus” apart from other Alien films is that while Rain and Andy struggle to stay alive, Ripley finds herself among the stars, avoiding a return to the last place she desires to be. This leaves the alien world free to explore new directions instead of rushing headlong into what comes next. This unique quality distinguishes “Romulus” from Ridley Scott’s previous works in the franchise, as Álvarez’s film serves as both a sequel and a prequel to some of the most cherished films in the series. However, it is not clear exactly which specific movies it directly connects to.

So, where does Alien: Romulus sit on the Aliens timeline?

Where Alien: Romulus Really Fits On The Timeline - Is It A Sequel Or A Prequel?

2142 marks the setting for the story, 20 years following the initial “Alien” encounter. The creature that Ripley infamously ejected from an airlock is unearthed by the company this time around. This very same xenomorph stirs on the Romulus and Remus vessel, causing the gruesome events our protagonists stumble upon.

As for Rain and Andy, they believe the xenomorph species has reached its end since they’ve managed to eliminate both the ship and the Offspring (a fusion of two of the most detested villains from the Alien series). However, it’s unfortunate that during this time, Ellen Ripley remains asleep in her escape pod, destined to awaken 37 years later in the year 2179 and return to LV-426, as depicted in “Aliens.

Due to these significant dates, it’s evident that the movie “Romulus” is positioned right between two iconic Alien films, beautifully blending elements from both for a thrilling tribute to horror. The big question now is where will the upcoming sequel to “Alien: Romulus” take us next?

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2024-11-09 20:00