MOVIE NEWS – The recently released trailer for Alien: Romulus got fans excited – but when exactly does the movie take place in the franchise’s timeline?

After the release of the latest trailer for Alien: Romulus, fans of the series are getting more and more excited. The newest instalment seems to put the franchise back on track. Viewers can’t wait to see what he has in store for them.

Still, with 45 years of history behind it – and a time plane unfolding irregularly over hundreds of years – it may not be clear exactly when Alien: Romulus takes place.

For those hoping to get their bearings before diving into the film, some additional information about this promising new project may prove helpful. Below, we have gathered all that is known so far.

What is Alien: Romulus about?

Alien: Romulus follows an all-new crew as they land on an abandoned space station. They come with the hope of tearing it apart. However, the young salvagers soon discover that the station hides much more than they expected. They soon find themselves in a gruesome cat-and-mouse game with a terrifying alien creature…

Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla, Civil War) leads the cast as Rain Carradine. Alongside him, David Jonsson (Rye Lane), Isabela Merced (Instant Family, Transformers: The Last Knight), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu will appear in minor and major roles.

It looks like Alien: Romulus is working hard to bring the franchise back to basics in every way.

The title refers to the mythological figure Romulus, who is said to have founded Rome after killing his brother Remus. Even the title hints at the theme of beginnings and betrayal. The film aims to follow in the footsteps of the founding instalment and return the franchise to its former glory.

Director Fede Álvarez is known as the director of the surprisingly solid Evil Dead remake and Don’t Breath. He seems like the perfect choice for the project. Between the brutal, over-the-top violence of Evil Dead and the claustrophobic dread of Don’t Breathe, Álvarez will be able to capture the unique style of sci-fi horror pioneered by 1979’s Alien. Álvarez recently informed The Hollywood Reporter that the new Alien film primarily used practical effects and tangible sets. They tried to neglect the green screen as much as possible.

Where is the film located in the timeline?

Although it may seem complicated at first, the order of the Alien movies is actually quite simple. Prometheus and Alien: Covenant take place before the original Alien and serve as prequels. After Alien, the sequels (all the way up to Alien: Romulus) take place in chronological order. Like the hugely popular survival horror game Alien: Isolation, Alien: Romulus occurs between Alien and its sequel, Aliens. With that in mind, the official order of the Alien movies in chronological order is as follows:

1. Prometheus
2. Alien: Covenant
3. Alien
4. Alien: Romulus
5. Aliens
6. Alien 3
7. Alien Resurrection

Although it was initially intended to be released on Hulu, Alien: Romulus has since been given an exclusive theatrical release. The film is currently set for an overseas release on August 16, 2024.

Source: THR, JoBlo