Alien: Romulus director refines Ian Holm's character for home release
The resurrection of the late Ian Holm’s likeness in Alien: Romulus sparked significant debate, especially concerning the depiction of his character, Rook, the android.
Directed by Fede Álvarez, the film initially received criticism for its reliance on CGI to recreate the actor’s likeness, which some felt lacked the desired realism.
In a recent interview with Empire, Álvarez expressed his dissatisfaction with the character's appearance, explaining that time constraints during post-production prevented the team from fully perfecting Rook's look. "I wasn’t 100 percent happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention," Álvarez admitted. While some fans and critics voiced their displeasure, Álvarez acknowledged that he understood the reaction.
Following the film's release in August, the director took it upon himself to fix the issue for the home release version. “We fixed it,” Álvarez said, revealing that additional time and resources were dedicated to refining Rook’s appearance for the home entertainment market. This improvement, he said, involved a return to practical effects, relying less on CGI and more on a puppet created with animatronic help. “It’s way better,” he added, noting that the use of a head cast from Lord of the Rings, a project Holm had worked on, played a key role in this new version.
The decision to resurrect Holm’s likeness stemmed from a creative collaboration between Álvarez and Alien franchise director Ridley Scott. Given Holm's portrayal of the android Ash in the original 1979 Alien film, Álvarez and Scott agreed that his return as a synthetic character in Romulus made sense, especially since the original model had never reappeared in subsequent films.
The director also emphasized that the approval of Holm’s family was crucial before proceeding with the likeness. “The whole thing started with me calling the estate and talking with his widow,” Álvarez explained. Holm’s widow expressed enthusiasm for the project, feeling that Hollywood had not fully recognized the actor’s talent in his later years. She was thrilled at the opportunity to bring him back for Alien: Romulus.
Ultimately, Álvarez believes that the updated version of Rook will better satisfy fans and critics, showcasing the character in a way that more faithfully honors Holm's legacy.
