Alien: Romulus 'Fixed' Terrible Ian Holm CGI for Home Release but Fans Still Think It’s Pretty Bad

Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, is already slated for a sequel. However, one element consistently criticized was the CGI depiction of Ian Holm.

Holm, who passed away in 2020, famously portrayed the android Ash in Ridley Scott's Alien. His controversial CGI reappearance in Alien: Romulus drew significant negative feedback, deemed distracting and unrealistic by many viewers. The criticism was so intense that a popular fan edit entirely removed his character.

Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, acknowledging time constraints during post-production hindered the CGI quality. He stated to Empire magazine, "We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. I wasn’t 100% happy with some of the shots..." He confirmed improvements for the home release, stating, "We fixed it. We made it better... It’s so much better."

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The home release utilizes more practical puppetry, reducing the reliance on CGI. However, fan reactions remain mixed. While some acknowledge improvement, many still find the portrayal distracting, with some questioning the necessity of Holm's inclusion. Reddit discussions highlight this ongoing debate, with comments ranging from "Better, but still awfully uncanny" to criticisms of the decision to use CGI for Holm's character at all.

Despite the mixed reception regarding the Holm CGI, Alien: Romulus achieved significant box office success, grossing $350 million globally. A sequel, Alien: Romulus 2, is currently under consideration by 20th Century Studios, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.