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Fede Alvarez’s highly anticipated Alien reboot, Alien: Romulus, will make its UK premiere at the revamped Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) on August 15, kicking off the festival’s new Midnight Madness strand. The film, which stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu, is produced by Ridley Scott and co-written and directed by Alvarez.
Billed as a return to the franchise’s roots, Alien: Romulus follows a group of young space colonizers who encounter the most terrifying life form in the universe while scavenging on a derelict space station. The film will be released in the UK and Ireland on August 16, the same day as its U.S. launch by 20th Century Studios. EIFF Director Paul Ridd expressed his excitement about hosting the UK premiere, stating,
“Fede Alvarez brings a sense of tradition and legacy, as well as gory originality and swagger to the table, and we can think of no better way to open our Midnight Madness programme than with this showstopping new film.”
The entire film was shot at Origo Studios in Budapest, Hungary over a 4-month period from March to July 2023 . This is the fourth sci-fi film to be shot in Hungary after Ridley Scott’s previous successes with The Martian and Blade Runner 2049 at the same studio .
Hungary was an attractive filming location due to its generous 30% tax rebate on production costs, as well as the availability of skilled crews and production professionals to assist with the logistics . The production spent an estimated $40 million (20.3 billion Hungarian Forints) in Hungary, after receiving around $6.1 million in tax incentives . This suggests the overall budget for the film was likely in the $100 million range.
Beyond the financial incentives, Hungary has become a popular destination for horror and sci-fi films in recent years, hosting productions like Midsommar, The Witcher, and now the latest Alien installment .
Director Fede Alvarez opted to use practical effects and build all the sets and creature designs from scratch, rather than relying heavily on green screens and CGI. He wanted the actors to be able to physically interact with the environments and props on set. The production built all the sets and creature designs from scratch at Origo Studios in Budapest, rather than using digital sets or backgrounds . This allowed for more authentic and immersive environments for the actors.
Hungary’s well-established film infrastructure and skilled crews were crucial in supporting Alvarez’s practical effects vision. The country has become a popular destination for horror and sci-fi films in recent years, hosting productions that require advanced technical capabilities.
Flatpack Films, a local production services company, assisted the ‘Alien: Romulus’ team by leveraging their expertise in the Hungarian market and providing access to exceptional local crews, unique filming locations, and cutting-edge technical resources.
