Fede Álvarez Will Not Direct The ALIEN: ROMULUS Sequel

Alien: Romulus may have broken records, but sadly director Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead) will not be returning to helm the sequel, which was initially reported last year.

In a new interview with TooFab on the red carpet of Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights' grand opening yesterday, Álvarez confirmed that while a sequel to Romulus is shaping up nicely, he will only be returning in a production capacity this time around:

“We just finished the script, actually, for a sequel forRomulus. But I'm gonna pass the torch on this one as director […] I'm going to produce it, with Ridley Scott, we're gonna produce it together and we're right now trying to find a new filmmaker to come in.

I think that's usually what has happened, except for Ridley, filmmakers come, you make one and you pass the baton to the next one […] But we wrote the story because we really love what we started with Romulus and we want to continue the story. We love the story and now we just want to find a director that really wants to go for the jugular.”

Starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Aileen Wu, Isabela Merced and Archie Renaux, and produced by original Alien director Scott, Alien: Romulus is set between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), and follows a group of young space colonists exploring a Xenomorph-infested derelict Weyland-Yutani station.

Previously, Álvarez mentioned that a Romulus sequel would follow Spaeny's Rain and Jonsson's android Andy, and would explore “uncharted waters” for the iconic sci-fi horror franchise. Sadly, Álvarez's directorial departure means we may not get to see his potential team-up with Álvarez and Prey and Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg for a new Alien Vs. Predator movie, but also, never say never.

Whatever's next for Álvarez remains to be seen, but the Don't Breathe director did mention to TooFab that he is working “on an original” with frequent collaborator and co-writer Rodo Sayagues. Is it a horror movie? Who will take up the mantle to direct Alien: Romulus 2? Is it going to be called Alien: Remus? Who knows, but watch this space (pun not intended).