5 actors who would have been better suited for Alien: Romulus’ role

Alien: Romulus featured the synthetic character of Rook, modeled as a CGI recreation of the late Ian Holm, begging the question of which actors would have been a better choice in the role. Granted Alien: Romulus‘ Place on the Alien timeline, it makes sense in-universe to have Holm’s likeness used for the android known as Rook; Foreign: Romulus is sandwiched between Alien And AliensWith Holm’s Ash being the main android character used in the former. As such, by the time of Alien: Romulus‘Climactic ending, it became easier to understand the thought process behind using Holm.

That said, the decision drew criticism due to the fact that Holm passed away in 2020. Alien: Romulus Is generally considered to be one of the best ranked Alien In movies, Holm’s posthumous appearance was controversial due to the arguments over the morality of reviving actors on screen. While Rook’s character worked in the context of the movie itself, it was difficult for many to differentiate Alien: Romulus of the moral discussions, leading to the investigation of several other actors who would have worked better than Rook, the android of Aliens Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

5

Michael Fassbender

Published in Prometheus & Alien: Covenant

One of the more obvious choices for the Android character in Alien: Romulus was Michael Fassbender. Fassbender first appeared in 2012s Prometheus As David, an android created by the founder of the Weyland Corp, Peter Weyland. David is sent to LV-223 along with the crew of the USCSS Prometheus to find the engineers of the human race. David’s fascination with the Engineers saw him take a villainous turn, one that influenced the creation of the xenomorph variant known as the Protomorph in Alien: Covenant.

For many, Fassbender and his two characters, David and later the android Walter, are considered the best aspects of Ridley Scott’s Alien Prequel movies. Fassbender’s performance was endlessly satisfying, and his characters were integral to the investigation of the xenomorphs and the greater knowledge of the Alien Franchise Found in Prometheus And Alien: Covenant. Given that Alien: RomulusThe main MacGuffin is named the “Prometheus Fire” and is what Rook is so committed to securing for the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, it would have made thematic sense for Fassbender to be used for the character.

Additionally, it would allow Fassbender to play a slightly different type of android than David or Walter. These two characters have much more agency than most androids in the franchise, including Rook. As such, having Fassbender play Rook would have allowed him to act as a synthetic committed to the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, all while tying the actor back to his previous roles due to Alien: Romulus‘ Links to Prometheus And Alien: Covenant. Finally, Fassbender’s appearance would have removed the complex arguments surrounding Holm’s on-screen resurrection.

4

Lance Henrikson

Appeared in Aliens & Alien 3

Another actor who could have portrayed Ian Holm’s Rook in Alien: Romulus Is Lance Henrikson. Henriksen was introduced to the franchise in Aliens Like Bishop, another synthetic who was tasked with helping the US Colonial Marine Corps’ 2nd Battalion as they searched the new colony of LV-426 for xenomorphs. The character is initially distrusted by Ripley who had bad experiences with Ian Holm’s first android role, Ash, in Alien. Ripley discovered Bishop’s behavior when his white blood showed up Aliens‘ iconic knife trick scene early in the movie.

However, Bishop proved integral to helping Ripley defeat the Xenomorph Queen Strangers Finally, changing her perception of the android and leading to his more emotionally resonant role(s) in Alien 3. For many reasons, Henriksen would have been a better choice to portray Rook in Alien: Romulus. For one, the moral discussion of Holm’s CGI return would once again be avoided because Henriksen is still alive and somewhat active in Hollywood as of 2024.

secondly, Henriksen’s appearance would align with these Alien Timeline of how the bishop models were introduced before AliensThe same period in which Alien: Romulus is determined. Thematically, it would also have been intriguing to see Henriksen play a more antagonistic android. Bishop was more benevolent and helpful in AliensMeaning the role of Rook would allow the actor to flex more villainous muscles than Rook serves as Alien: Romulus Secondary antagonist.

3

Winona Ryder

Appeared in Alien: Resurrection

Although the choice is not as perfect as Fassbender or Henriksen, Alien: Romulus Could have brought Winona Ryder back as Rook. Rider appeared in Alien: Resurrection Like the secret android known as Call, who was trying to keep her nature hidden after the event known as “The Recall” saw synthetics being outlawed. Overall, Call was an intriguing character despite existing in one of the worst received Alien Movies.

Regarding replacing Ian Holm as Rook, Ryder’s Call is an interesting case study. The obvious benefit is that Ryder is still a well-known Hollywood actress and, story-wise, Alien: Romulus may have given the call synthetic something of an origin story. That said, Alien: Resurrection is set hundreds of years later RomulusMeaning it would have made less sense in the universe for Ryder to play Ruck. Just from a moral standpoint, Ryder might have been a better choice for Ruck than Holm Alien: Romulus.

2

David Johnson

Published in Foreign: Romulus

David Jonsson is widely considered to have the best performance in Alien: Romulus Like Andy, the synthetic adopted brother of Cailee Spaeny’s Rain. Jonsson played Andy with such sympathy that he was instantly the favorite character of many, which makes his turn into a more antagonistic force once Rook’s programming is embedded in him that much more effective. Given how closely Jonsson’s Andy is tied to slide in Alien: RomulusIt could be argued that he was the best choice to play Rook in the first place.

If Jonsson had played Rook and Andy, it would have allowed for a deeper exploration of the character. The intriguing moral dilemmas that this may have raised about Andy, who discovers that he is not supposed to be a good helper, but instead a cold servant of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation could have benefited his character circle even more. It would also have removed the admittedly jarring scenes involving Rook from the film and allowed for greater audience immersion. Although the broader Alien Easter eggs in Alien: Romulus Had it been removed, Johnson playing Rook would have worked better, both story and character-wise.

1

A new actor

While admitted broadly, simply hiring a new actor to the Alien Franchise to paint Alien: Romulus‘ Rook would have been a better choice than bringing back Ian Holm posthumously. Although the connection to Alien would be gone as a result, a new actor would have allowed Alien: Romulus To stand on its own as a film in the franchise, rather than one that is too focused on retreating to the more familiar. Even if that were the case, the film’s ties to Prometheus would have thought Alien: Romulus slotted into the franchise at large, albeit with its own identity.

Holm returned as slide is simply too jarring to make the connection to Alien Worth it, and another actor could easily play the role. There are many actors working in Hollywood who excel at playing somewhat cold, detached characters, but who can turn on the villainous aspects. when needed. Some examples include Ryan Gosling (Drive), Paul Dano (The Batman, prisoner), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), and Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles of Narnia, Suspiria).

Of course, the aforementioned actors are just a tiny sample size of actors who could have imbued Ruck with the necessary synthetic qualities and antagonistic traits while making the role their own. This would have offered the opportunity for future Alien movies to bring the actor back by introducing a new line of synthetic androids. Nevertheless, Holm’s figure is used for slide Alien: RomulusRegardless of whether there were better choices in the realm of Hollywood.