Warning: This article contains major spoilers for “Alien: Romulus.”
In the Alien franchise, the Weyland-Yutani Corporation is perpetually obsessed with weaponizing the Xenomorph, despite the catastrophic death tolls that follow every attempt. Hollywood seems to be mirroring this corporate madness, as the latest installment, Alien: Romulus, repeats a recurring industry error: the digital resurrection of deceased actors.
The Persistent Problem with Digital Ghosts
While Alien: Romulus has earned praise for its direction and atmosphere, it falls into the same trap as recent blockbusters that rely on CGI to manipulate time and mortality. From Harrison Ford’s de-aged appearance in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to the return of Peter Cushing’s likeness in Rogue One, the trend of using digital simulacra to fill roles has become a point of contention for audiences and industry professionals alike.
In Romulus, director Fede Álvarez opted to recreate the likeness of Ian Holm—who passed away in 2020—to portray an android model identical to the one seen in the original 1979 film. According to reports from Variety, the effect was achieved through a combination of animatronics, CGI, and a performance by actor Daniel Betts.
Ethics and the Uncanny Valley
The use of digital actors was a central flashpoint during the recent SAG-AFTRA strikes, highlighting deep-seated fears regarding the replacement of human performers with AI-generated likenesses. Despite these concerns, Álvarez maintains that the process is far from efficient, noting that the logistical and financial cost of hiring dozens of artists to create a digital puppet remains significantly higher than simply casting a living actor.
However, the economic argument misses the primary issue: the aesthetic failure. Regardless of the technical advancements in visual effects, digital resurrections consistently land in the “uncanny valley.” These creations are rarely convincing, serving only to remind the audience of the artificiality of the image rather than immersing them in the narrative.
When Less Is More
Alien: Romulus provides a perfect case study of why digital resurrection is unnecessary. When the character of Rook is first introduced, the filmmakers utilize shadows, obscured angles, and distorted audio to suggest his presence. In those moments, the effect is genuinely chilling and effective. It is only when the film forces a direct, high-definition look at the CGI-recreated face that the immersion shatters.
As the industry continues to chase the dream of the “perfect” digital actor, one can’t help but think of the studio executives echoing the mantra of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation: “This time, we’re going to make it work.” Unfortunately, like the doomed crews of the Alien universe, Hollywood is learning the hard way that some things are better left buried.