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, has already greenlit a sequel. However, one element drew near-universal criticism: 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 return in Alien: Romulus was widely criticized as distracting and unrealistic, prompting a popular fan edit to completely remove his character.

Director Fede Alvarez addressed the issue, stating in an interview with Empire that time constraints during post-production prevented them from perfecting the CGI. He acknowledged the negative reactions, stating he wasn't entirely satisfied with the theatrical release.

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For the home release, Alvarez confirmed improvements, emphasizing increased use of practical puppetry and refined CGI. He secured additional funding to allow for proper completion. However, fan reactions remain mixed. While some see a slight improvement, many still find the portrayal distracting, questioning the necessity of Holm's inclusion.

A Reddit thread (u/Davidedby in LV426) highlights this varied response. Comments range from noting subtle improvements to maintaining strong disapproval of the CGI and even the decision to include the character.

Despite the criticism, Alien: Romulus's $350 million global box office success prompted 20th Century Studios to announce plans for a sequel, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.