"Alien: Romulus CGI Improved for Home Release, Fans Remain Unimpressed"

*Alien: Romulus* has been a resounding success, captivating both critics and fans alike, and its impressive box office haul has already led to the announcement of a sequel. However, one aspect of the film that received widespread criticism was the CGI used to bring back the late Ian Holm, who originally portrayed the android Ash in Ridley Scott's iconic *Alien*. Holm's digital resurrection in *Alien: Romulus* was met with disapproval from viewers who found it distracting and unconvincing. The backlash was so significant that a popular fan-edit even removed Holm's character entirely from the film's narrative.

In response to the criticism, director Fede Alvarez took steps to improve the Ian Holm CGI for the home release of *Alien: Romulus*. In an interview with Empire, Alvarez candidly admitted, "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, Alvarez insisted on reworking the CGI, stating, "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."

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The revised version of the Ian Holm character in the home release leans more on practical puppet work than CGI. However, despite these efforts, fans remain divided on whether the changes truly enhance the viewing experience. Many have voiced their opinions on social media, with comments such as, "Better, but still awfully uncanny… and for no sound reason," from Kwtwo1983 on Reddit. Another user, thelastcupoftea, suggested, "Should’ve messed his face up much more," while Smug_amoeba called it "a needless and distracting part of the movie." Worried_Bowl_9489 noted, "Both look bad and one is a bit darker lol."

The comparison between the theatrical and home release versions reveals that the latter pulls the shot back to show more of the practical puppet, making the CGI face less prominent. Yet, as TheUrPigeon pointed out, "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."

Despite the CGI controversy, *Alien: Romulus* has significantly revitalized the franchise, grossing an impressive $350 million worldwide upon its summer release. The success has prompted 20th Century Studios to announce plans for a sequel, *Alien: Romulus 2*, which would continue the story of the original film. Fede Alvarez is being considered to return as director for this next installment.