Disney+ is getting a new Alien. To celebrate the arrival of the film Romulus on the video streaming platform, we're revisiting one of the most controversial theories surrounding Fede Álvarez's film. Enough to divide fans even more, and question the coherence of the cult saga.
An Easter egg gone wrong
During a special presentation organized by Collider in February 2025, Fede Álvarez confirmed what the most attentive fans had noticed: the presence of the Narcissus, the escape shuttle used by Ripley at the end of the first Alien, is indeed present in several shots of Romulus. But what was supposed to be only a nod to the previous films ultimately took on much larger proportions.
The director took advantage of his speech to detail a whole parallel story imagined for Ripley, explaining that, according to his logic, if the Weyland-Yutani company had been able to find the xenomorph in the wreckage of the Nostromo, it would have been even easier to locate the Narcissus thanks to her rescue beacon.
A parallel adventure for Ripley
According to him, Ripley had to be on board the Renaissance station, where the action of Romulus takes place. For Fede Álvarez, Ripley had her own adventure in the corridors of the station, alongside the heroes of the film. Part of the chaos and events of the film could even be attributed to the actions of the character, who then returned to the Narcissus to leave again, thus explaining why she remains untraceable until her awakening in Aliens: The Return. This theory, never shown on screen, serves as a justification for the shuttle's presence in the film. But it also calls into question the coherence of the saga.
If Ripley really had an adventure on the Renaissance station, why does she never mention it in Aliens: The Return? This lack of explanation leaves open the idea of convenient amnesia, or (more likely) a simple script oversight. For many, this theory adds nothing to Ripley's story and seems like a pure exercise in fan service, multiplying winks without enriching the franchise's mythology. Ironically, Fede Álvarez had nevertheless affirmed that Ripley would not appear in the sequel to Alien: Romulus.
Watch on Disney+
Despite this gray area, Alien: Romulus was a huge box office success, grossing over $350 million on an $80 million budget, well above the scores of Alien: Covenant. The studio has already launched a sequel, still entrusted to Fede Álvarez, while the series Alien: Earth is expected this summer on Disney+.
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