Alien: Romulus featured the synthetic character of Rook, modeled as a CGI recreation of the late Ian Holm, raising the question of which actors would have been a better choice for the role. Given Alien: Romulus‘place in the Foreign timeline, it makes in-universe sense that Holm’s image would be used for the android known as Rook; Alien: Romulus is sandwiched between Foreign and aliensHolm’s Ash being the main android character used in the first. As such, at the time of Alien: Romulus‘In the climactic ending, it became easier to understand the thought process behind Holm’s use.
That said, the decision sparked outside criticism due to Holm’s passing in 2020. Although Alien: Romulus It is generally considered one of the best ranked Foreign Films, Holm’s posthumous appearance was controversial due to discussions about the morality of reviving actors on screen. While Rook’s character worked within the context of the film itself, it was difficult for many to differentiate him. Alien: Romulus of these moral discussions, which led to the exploration of several other actors who would have worked better as Rook, the android of ForeignWeyland-Yutani Corporation.
5Michael Fassbender
Appeared in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant
Near
One of the most obvious choices for the Android character in Alien: Romulus It was Michael Fassbender. Fassbender first appeared in 2012. Prometheus as David, an android created by Weyland Corp founder Peter Weyland. David was sent to LV-223 along with the crew of the USCSS Prometheus to find the engineers of the human race. David’s fascination with the Engineers led him to take a villainous turn, one that influenced the creation of the Xenomorph variant known as Protomorph in Foreigner: Covenant.
Related I Wish Alien: Romulus brought back a different actor to be Torre
Rook is one of the biggest points of contention in the new movie Alien: Romulus. I would rather have seen a different actor return to the franchise.
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For many, Fassbender and his two characters, David and later the android Walter, were considered the best aspects of Ridley Scott’s film. Foreign prequel movies. Fassbender’s performance was endlessly satisfying and his characters were integral to the exploration of the xenomorphs and the broader story of the saga. Foreign franchise found in Prometheus and Foreigner: Covenant. Given that Alien: RomulusThe central MacGuffin is called “Prometheus Fire” and is what Rook is so committed to securing for the Weyland-Yutani Corporation that it would have made thematic sense for Fassbender to be used for the character.
Having Fassbender play Rook would have allowed him to act as a synthetic committed to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, while also tying the actor to his previous roles…
Additionally, this would have allowed Fassbender to play a slightly different type of android than David or Walter. These two characters had much more agency than most of the androids in the franchise, including Rook. As such, having Fassbender play Rook would have allowed him to act as a synthetic committed to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, while also tying the actor to his previous roles due to Alien: Romulus‘ links to Prometheus and Foreigner: Covenant. Finally, Fassbender’s appearance would have eliminated the complex plotlines surrounding Holm’s on-screen resurrection.
4 Lance Henriksen
Appeared in Aliens and Alien 3
Near
Another actor who could have played Ian Holm’s Tower in Alien: Romulus It’s Lance Henriksen. Henriksen learned about the franchise in aliens as Bishop, another synthetic who was tasked with assisting the 2nd Battalion of the US Colonial Marine Corps as they searched for xenomorphs in the new colony of LV-426. Initially, Ripley was wary of the character, who had bad experiences with Ian Holm’s first android role, Ash, in Foreign. Ripley discovered Bishop’s nature when his white blood was shown in aliens‘Iconic knife trick scene at the beginning of the film.
Related Why Androids Have White Blood in Alien Movies
The androids in the Alien films have white blood instead of red to differentiate them from humans and connect with the franchise’s themes.
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However, Bishop was instrumental in helping Ripley defeat the Xenomorph Queen in aliens ending, changing your perception of the android and leading to your most emotionally resonant role(s) in Alien 3. For many reasons, Henriksen would have been a better choice to play Rook in Alien: Romulus. For one, the moral argument over Holm’s CGI return would be avoided again since Henriksen is still alive and somewhat active in Hollywood as of 2024.
Secondly, Henriksen’s appearance would align with the Foreign timeline since Bishop models were introduced earlier aliensthe same period in which Alien: Romulus is configured. Thematically, it would have also been intriguing to see Henriksen play a more antagonistic android. Bishop was more benevolent and helpful in aliensmeaning that the role of Rook would have allowed the actor to flex more villainous muscles while Rook serves as Alien: Romulus secondary antagonist.
3Winona Ryder
Appeared in Alien: Resurrection
Near
Although it is true that he is not as perfect a choice as Fassbender or Henriksen, Alien: Romulus could have brought back Winona Ryder as Rook. Ryder appeared in Alien: resurrection as the secret android known as Call, who attempted to keep his nature hidden after the event known as “The Recall” caused synthetics to be banned. Overall, Call was an intriguing character despite existing in one of the worst received ones. Foreign cinema.
|
alien movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Critical Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Foreign |
93% |
94% |
|
aliens |
94% |
94% |
|
alien 3 |
44% |
46% |
|
Alien: resurrection |
55% |
39% |
|
Prometheus |
73% |
68% |
|
Foreigner: Covenant |
65% |
55% |
|
Alien: Romulus |
80% |
85% |
As for replacing Ian Holm as Rook, Ryder’s Call is an interesting case study. The obvious benefit is that Ryder is still a prominent Hollywood actress and, story-wise, Alien: Romulus could have given the Call Synthetic an origin story of sorts. That said, Alien: resurrection takes place hundreds of years later Romulusmeaning it would have made less in-universe sense for Ryder to play Rook. However, simply from a moral standpoint, Ryder may have been the better choice for Rook than Holm in Foreigner: Romulus.
2David Jonsson
Appeared in Alien: Romulus
Near
David Jonsson was widely considered the best performer in Alien: Romulus as Andy, the synthetic adoptive brother of Cailee Spaeny’s Rain. Jonsson played Andy with such likability that he instantly became a favorite character of many, making his transformation into a more antagonistic force once Rook’s programming was integrated into him that much more effective. Given how closely Andy de Jonsson is linked to Rook in Alien: RomulusYou could argue that he was the best option to play against Rook in the first place.
The intriguing moral dilemmas this could have raised for Andy, who discovers that he was not supposed to be a benevolent helper but a cold servant of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, could have benefited his character arc…
If Jonsson had played Rook and Andy, it would have allowed for a deeper exploration of the character. The intriguing moral dilemmas this could have raised for Andy, who discovers that he was not supposed to be a benevolent helper but a cold servant of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, could have benefited his character arc even more. It would also have removed the admittedly jarring scenes involving Rook from the film and allowed for greater audience immersion. Although the wider Foreign easter eggs in Alien: Romulus If it had been removed, Jonnson playing Rook would have worked better, both narratively and character-wise.
1 A new actor
While it is certainly broad, simply hiring a new actor for the Foreign franchise to portray Alien: Romulus‘Rook would have been a better choice than bringing back Ian Holm posthumously. Although the connection with Foreign would be absent as a result, a new actor would have allowed Alien: Romulus to stand on its own as a franchise film rather than one too focused on tying into the larger story. Even if this were the case, the film’s ties to Prometheus would have meant Alien: Romulus fitted into the overall franchise, albeit with its own identity.
Holm’s return as Rook was simply too jarring to make the connection with. Foreign It’s worth it, and another actor could have easily played that role. There are many actors working in Hollywood who excel at playing somewhat cold and distant characters, but who can resort to evil aspects when necessary. Some examples include Ryan Gosling (Drive), Pablo Dano (Batman, Prisoners), Jake Gyllenhaal (Night Crawler), and Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia, Suspiria).
This would have offered the opportunity for future
Foreign
movies to bring this actor back by introducing a new line of synthetic androids…
Of course, the aforementioned actors are just a small sample of actors who could have imbued Rook with the necessary synthetic qualities and antagonistic traits while making the role their own. This would have offered the opportunity for future Foreign movies to bring this actor back by introducing a new line of synthetic androids. However, Holm’s image was used for Rook in Alien: Romulusregardless of whether there were better options in the Hollywood sphere.
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7/10 52 8.4/10 Extraterrestrial: Romulus R
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The film is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new group of young characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a standalone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
Director Fede Alvarez Release Date August 16, 2024 Writers Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues, Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett Cast Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu, Rosie Ede, Soma Simon, Bence Okeke, Viktor Orizu, Robert Bobroczkyi, Trevor Newlin, Annemarie Griggs, Daniel Betts Duration 119 minutes