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Usually, one needs to be decked out to get selected for a job, be it in Tinseltown or the whole wide world. However, it may not have been the case with Milla Jovovich, who shared that she got selected for her role in The Fifth Element because she was down with a hangover.

Jovovich, who starred in the director Luc Besson’s 1997 hit, The Fifth Element, revealed during an interview that it wasn’t her audition that impressed the French-origin filmmaker. Only when she appeared (genuinely) hungover after a wild party did Besson agree to cast her as Leeloo in the sci-fi action.

Reflecting on the hiring process, the 49-year-old star said that her messy hair and no makeup look did the ultimate trick.

Milla Jovovich shared the interesting way she got hired for The Fifth Element

Milla Jovovich revealed during an interview with GQ that initially she “auditioned for...

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Nonnas is a comedy drama film directed by Stephen Chbosky from a screenplay by Liz Maccie. Based on the life of Joe Scaravella, the owner of Staten Island restaurant Enoteca Maria. It follows Joe after he loses his mother and realizes how much he loved the food his mother and grandmother made, leading him to impulsively buy a restaurant and team up with real-life Italian nonnas to make food. Nonnas stars Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello, Linda Cardellini, and Susan Sarandon. So, if you loved the feel-good story, hilarious comedy, and lovable characters in Nonnas, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Chef (Tubi & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Open Road Films

Chef is a road trip comedy-drama film written and directed by Jon Favreau. The 2014 film follows Carl Casper,...

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Hulu is one of the most underrated streaming services, even though it has some of the most brilliant movies in its library. The Disney-owned streaming service is one of the most profitable streaming services as it has great indie films because it is partnered up with great independent studios as well as some of the biggest blockbusters around. So, we compiled a list of the best movies that are available on Hulu right now.

The Truman Show Credit – Paramount Pictures

The Truman Show is a psychological comedy-drama film directed by Peter Weir from a screenplay by Andrew Niccol. The 1998 film follows the life of Truman Burbank, who doesn’t know that his whole life has been filmed and broadcasted to the whole world on reality television, but now he has begun to see some cracks in his life.

In a decade of sci-fi blockbusters, the 90s delivered some of the genre's biggest hits, from The Matrix and Jurassic Park to Men in Black and Starship Troopers. But most sci-fi of the time followed a familiar formula: sleek and somewhat serious. That was until The Fifth Element, a neon-soaked sci-fi comedy that brought space operas, high fashion, and wild, comic-book energy.

Starring Bruce Willis as a cynical ex-soldier and Gary Oldman as a cartoonish villain, the film bent the genre rules. And, while critics didn’t know what to make of it, audiences did. It became one of the highest-grossing sci-fi films of the decade, turning its opposing style into part of its legacy.

The Fifth Element Is a Dystopian Classic

The Fifth Element follows Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), a former special forces soldier turned taxi driver in a futuristic New York. But when LeeLoo – a genetically modified alien...

There are few cinematic locations as beautiful as The Shire in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, one of the greatest film franchises of all time. The cozy, green village where Bilbo Baggins and the rest of our Hobbit heroes reside is a picturesque fantasy locale, one that you can actually still visit down in New Zealand. However, since plane tickets are pretty pricey, Lego has a way you can visit The Shire without leaving the comfort of your home. 

Lego

The building brick masters at Lego have announced the release of a new "Lord of the Rings" playset that lets fans build Bilbo Baggins' house in The Shire. The cute little hole in the hill is one of the most iconic locations in Middle-earth, and now you can build it yourself. Sweetening the deal, the set includes an amazing assembly of minifigures and all the details you'd...

FX is launching a series of immersive experiences ahead of the summer premiere of “Alien: Earth,“ and it all begins with an activation at SXSW that lets attendees explore a mysterious wreckage site. Ahead of the festival, Bloody Disgusting was sent mysterious footage from that ill-fated ship that offers intriguing new clues on the highly anticipated series.

Watch the excavated footage below and scour for hints at what’s ahead.

In the 2120-set FX series from creator Noah Hawley, “When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.”

What’s extremely worrisome is that the footage is courtesy of Rascal, a long-haired orange cat with a camera attached to its collar as it roams freely aboard the Uscss Maginot, the Weyland-Yutani ship that crashes on Earth.

Quick LinksRomulus Brought Back An Old Character With New DangersThe Horrors Revealed Left Behind A Glaring QuestionWill Alien: Earth Be Able to Tackle This Explanation?

After Ridley Scott's Prometheus duology within the Alien franchise explained some aspects of the xenomorph's origins, fans felt it was due time to bring the beloved space horror series back to basics. Alien: Romulus did just that and revived the Alien franchise with the grime, grit, and horror that was missing in the exposition of the prequels. Romulus tackled a new scenario with the echoing foreboding of an all-too-familiar ship's ruins being rediscovered. With a cast of brand new characters, audiences could rediscover the horror as well as new mysteries being revealed.

As it is with most Alien films, some questions and the potential for their answers are always lost in the chase for survival, and Alien: Romulus' plot is no exception. Half of...

There are a lot of crossovers and connections within Middle-earth media. Even with completely separate projects, like Prime Video's "The Rings of Power" series and Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, you can see the throughlines. Some are obvious, like the similarities in Balrog design between Jackson's movies and Prime Video's show. Others are more subtle, like the ways "The Rings of Power" tries to recapture the magic of Jackson's Middle-earth movies. And then there is the human link.

Overall, there isn't too much personnel crossover between the Warner Bros. and Prime Video Middle-earth universes. However, there is one actor who has managed to pop up in both of them: Jed Brophy. Even more impressive? He managed to land full-blown character roles in all six of Jackson Middle-earth films and has since shown up on "The Rings of Power." He's even developed a...

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This March, Hulu is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the wacky crime comedy series Deli Boys to the much-anticipated streaming release of Anora. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Hulu this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the ten best films that are coming to Hulu in March 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

High Fidelity (March 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91% Credit – Touchstone Pictures

High Fidelity is a romantic comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay co-written by D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack, and Scott Rosenberg. Based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, the 2000 film follows Rob, a record store owner who has been unlucky in relationships. However, his bad luck might...

On March 29th, a benefit concert featuring the artists behind the Garden State soundtrack will take place at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. For those who can’t make it in-person, Veeps has announced that the one-off show will be available to stream starting on April 6th.

Announced last fall, the concert (get tickets here) is bringing the soundtrack’s featured artists together for the first time ever. The Shins, Iron & Wine, Frou Frou, Thievery Corporation, Remy Zero, Men at Work’s Colin Hay, and Cary Brothers are set to perform at the show, plus special guests are expected to drop in.

Get Garden State Benefit Concert Tickets Here

Braff has also teased that they will screen some behind-the-scenes footage from the movie. The concert is raising funds for the Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles homeless shelter and service provider. You can now buy a 48-hour access ticket on...

On March 29th, a benefit concert featuring the artists behind the Garden State soundtrack will take place at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. For those who can’t make it in-person, Veeps has announced that the one-off show will be available to stream starting on April 6th.

Announced last fall, the concert (get tickets here) is bringing the soundtrack’s featured artists together for the first time ever. The Shins, Iron & Wine, Frou Frou, Thievery Corporation, Remy Zero, Men at Work’s Colin Hay, and Cary Brothers are set to perform at the show, plus special guests are expected to drop in.

Get Garden State Benefit Concert Tickets Here

Braff has also teased that they will screen some behind-the-scenes footage from the movie. The concert is raising funds for the Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles homeless shelter and service provider. You can now buy a 48-hour access ticket on...

Metaphysic, the generative AI startup that helped digitally de-age Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in Robert Zemeckis’ “Here”, has been acquired by Dneg Group’s AI company Brahma. The price of the transaction was not disclosed.

Dneg Group is the privately held parent company of VFX and animation studio Dneg (formerly known as Double Negative). The studio is currently nominated for a visual effects Oscar for their work on “Dune: Part Two,” and won a BAFTA over the weekend for their work on the movie. Prime Focus, who developed Clear’s “impressive, purpose-built AI platform empowering rapid in-house AI development” (according to the official release) and Ziva, “technology for the creation of digital human and character simulations,” are also part of the Dneg Group umbrella.

Metaphysic’s AI neural performance toolset was honored at the Visual Effects Society Awards last week with the prestigious Emerging Technology Award.

Brahma launched last...

Through 2024’s Alien: Romulus, filmmaker Fede Alvarez introduced audiences to an entirely new story with plenty of fresh faces. Ditching the characters of yesteryear — specifically Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley — the Evil Dead helmer allowed a new wing of the universe to form, giving fans a brand-new leading lady to cheer for in Cailee Spaeny’s Rain Carradine. Still, those who have seen the sci-fi horror film will know that a familiar face from Alien popped by in a sort-of cameo capacity. We are, of course, talking about the late Ian Holm, whose likeness appeared as Rook — an android who shares the same face and functionalities as the actor’s Alien character, Ash. For those of us who caught Romulus during its opening weekend, it’s likely that we went into it blind, not knowing about Holm’s posthumous return to the franchise. And, according to Alvarez, the secrecy surrounding Rook was a lengthy process,...

When it comes to horror sequels, Alien: Romulus now stands among the best ones in modern cinema. Directed by 2013's Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe auteur Fede Álvarez, Romulus provided audiences with a unique approach to the Alien universe. However, as Álvarez has revealed, the original plans included an amazing strategy that would have blown everyone's minds: In the director's original vision, you would have found out that it was an Alien movie roughly a third of the way through.

The director spoke to Collider after a special IMAX screening of the movie. During the Q&a, Álvarez made some shocking reveals, including about the upcoming sequel and when he wants to start production, to the confirmation that Ellen Ripley is actually in Romulus. The director also teased the idea of making an Alien vs. Predator movie, and it was there that he revealed his original plan for Alien: Romulus.

Alien: Romulus is now one of the best and most successful films in the Alien franchise. In the land of prequels and sequels within the universe created by Ridley Scott in 1979, it stands out as the one that achieved a perfect balance between complying with the franchise rules and being its own thing. Taking place between Alien and Aliens, it's the only one in this part of the timeline that doesn't feature the hero Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) fighting xenomorphs. But, according to director Fede Álvarez, this doesn’t mean she isn't "present" in the movie. But where?

Álvarez spoke to Collider a few days ago during a special screening of Alien: Romulus, and he addressed Ripley being absent from the movie. Last year, when the film premiered, viewers were ecstatic about the idea of a cameo by the franchise's signature character, but it ultimately never happened. Instead, they witnessed...

Hobbits, with their trademark charm and quaintness, have become synonymous with J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings saga, largely due to the generationally revered performances of actors like Elijah Wood, Ian Holm, and Sean Astin. However, as fans likely know, Tolkien’s world extends far beyond that iconic trilogy, and the same is true of the hobbits that starred in it, featuring numerous lesser-known characters who, though not given screen time in the initial three Lord of the Rings films, have appeared in other works, showcasing the depth of Tolkien and other's work, in characters that deserve the spotlight as well. From heroic adventurers to quirky ancestors to the hobbits audiences do know, the diverse portrayals of hobbits outside The Lord of the Rings trilogy offer a fascinating look at the broader spectrum of character types in the Shire, and in all of Middle-Earth.

These hobbits, though not...

Ratatouille is one of Pixar's most underrated films (at least compared to its massive hits). Directed by Brad Bird—who also helmed The Incredibles—It follows a culinary-obsessed rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt) as he befriends a human named Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) to become a great chef and restore the prestige of the restaurant of Remy's deceased idol, Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett). Along the way, they contend with Gusteau's greedy successor, Skinner (Sir Ian Holm), a notoriously picky food critic named Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole), and the prejudices that exist between humans and rats.

Few films possess the haunting emotional depth of “The Sweet Hereafter.” It is a film that doesn’t merely present a tragedy but rather immerses its audience in the reverberations of grief, guilt, and loss. Unlike conventional dramas that hinge on courtroom climaxes or clear resolutions, Atom Egoyan’s adaptation of Russell Banks’ novel refuses to deliver any straightforward answers. Instead, it unfolds like a fractured memory, where time bends and emotions blur, forcing us to navigate a labyrinth of suffering without the comfort of closure.

Egoyan’s screenplay plays out like a puzzle, a structure that immediately places the audience in a position of active engagement. There is no linear progression that neatly traces cause and effect, no clear antagonist or protagonist. What makes the film uniquely challenging is its demand for shifting allegiances—we are asked to build empathy for one character, only to have it redirected elsewhere...

Director Fede Álvarez, the filmmaker behind last year's popular Alien: Romulus, has revealed he's already working on the sequel and hopes to begin shooting this year,Collider reports. Álvarez also said he wants to "go into truly uncharted waters for the franchise," promising an even bigger movie-going experience than its predecessor.

The Don't Breathe director joined his Alien: Romulus colleagues, VFX Supervisor Eric Barbraand Wētā FX VFX Supervisor Dan Macarin for a panel discussion following an IMAX screening of their film hosted by Collider. During the talk, Álvarez was asked about the Romulus sequel, and he let the gathered crowd know he was currently writing the film. Álvarez also said, "I think the sequel is my next movie, adding, "I hope I can shoot it this year."

Álvarez elaborated some on the status of the project, highlighting the importance of creating a follow-up that continues the story in a meaningful way.

Milla Jovovich has hinted that she might reprie her role as Leeloo in an animated spinoff of The Fifth Element. While promoting her upcoming film In the Lost Lands, she mentioned working with filmmaker Luc Besson again and suggested he may already be developing “some sort of spinoff of a bunch of his characters.” This is the first mention of such a project, but it’s already generating excitement among fans.

Jovovich elaborated, saying, “I think Luc is making some sort of spinoff of a bunch of his biggest characters, and Leeloo might be one of them. An animated, cartoon version. I think back in those days, people weren’t thinking about sequels, it was just about making the best movie you could possibly make. For me, Leeloo was one of the most important characters of my young life at that point. It’s what really introduced me to what...

The Fifth Element premiered in 1997, but it's now regarded as a cult classic. The sci-fi space adventure from Luc Besson starred Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Chris Tucker and Gary Oldman.

Following its release, the movie received enough positive reviews but its theatrical run wasn't impressive. Although a sequel was planned at the time, it never happened. In a new interview with ComicBook to promote her upcoming fantasy action film, In the Lost Lands, Milla Jovovich teased a new animated spinoff sequel to The Fifth Element.

Related'Don't Count Me Out': Dave Bautista Told James Gunn He Wants to Join the Dcu

Former MCU star Dave Bautista is ready to follow his Guardians of the Galaxy writer/director James Gunn over to DC Studios.

During the interview, the actress noted she is working with Luc Besson again, and teased that the filmmaker may be planning "some sort of spinoff of a bunch of his characters.

"Aliens vs Avengers" sounds like a disposable crossover premise, and another way for Disney to flaunt its now-ownership over 20th Century Fox. Yet this comic has zagged whenever I expected it to zig.

Marvel brought out its A-List talent for the series, reuniting writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Esad Ribic from 2015's "Secret Wars" crossover. Rather than a simple beat 'em up, the comic has gone downright apocalyptic; a Xenomorph infestation reaches Earth and wipes almost the entire planet out.

The comics have been pulling quite a bit from Ridley Scott's underrated but essential prequel duology "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant" too. Hickman and Ribic tell us that, had the Engineers made it back to Earth in "Prometheus," not even the heroes of the Marvel Universe could've stopped their bio-weapons from ending humanity.

Now, Marvel has shared an exclusive look at "Aliens vs Avengers" #3 with /Film. This will be the...

One of the most interesting debates in The Lord of the Rings lore is about who gets to go to the Undying Lands, especially after the end of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Bilbo (Ian Holm), Frodo (Elijah Wood), and Sam (Sean Astin) all get to go with Gandalf (Ian McKellen), followed by Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) later on, but Merry (Dominic Monaghan), Pippin (Billy Boyd), and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) are never allowed to sail into the West. Especially in Aragorn's case, this seems a little unfair, given his crucial role in the Fellowship of the Ring, but it actually makes a lot of sense in his story that he stays in Middle-earth.

IndieWire invited the production VFX supervisors from the five Oscar-nominated films to choose and analyze a pivotal scene that best showcases their craft: Paul Lambert (“Dune: Part Two”), Wētā FX’s Erik Winquist (“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”), Wētā FX’s Luke Millar (“Better Man”), Eric Barba (“Alien: Romulus”), and Ilm’s Pablo Helman (“Wicked”).

For Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part Two,” Lambert and his Oscar-winning “Dune” team from Dneg ramped up everything with much more visceral action. They once again used sand-colored VFX screens to integrate live-action footage with digital elements; they supplied CG enhancement to the 44-day SFX practical shoot of Paul (Timothée Chalamet) riding the sandworm for the first time; and they created more extensive views of the massive sandworms during battle with CG and practical effects.

Wes Ball’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” dives deeper into the now dominant ape civilization.

The use of AI in best picture contender “The Brutalist” recently grabbed headlines and ignited controversy, but it isn’t the only Oscar contender to use the advancing technology. High-profile films such as “A Complete Unknown,” “Dune: Part 2” and “Emilia Pérez” have also used AI in large or small ways, and the growing popularity has led the Motion Picture Academy to actively explore changing its Oscar submission requirements so that films would have to disclose their use of AI, Variety has learned.

The Academy currently offers an optional disclosure form for AI use, but Governors and Branch executive committees are now investigating how AI is used in each branch with an eye toward making disclosure mandatory in the 2026 Oscars rules, which are expected to be published in April. The Academy’s SciTech Council is working on recommended language, Variety has also learned.

Development of visual effects tools and processes...

Released just a few months after the 45th anniversary of Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” “Alien: Romulus” brings the franchise roaring back to life after a seven-year hiatus. Director and co-writer Fede Álvarez leveraged its complex mythology by staging his installment between the events of the original film and its 1986 follow-up “Aliens.” But just as important was Álvarez’ combining filmmaking techniques used on those earlier chapters with the most up-to-date technology available to deliver its many thrills — and in the process, to cement the series’ reputation as one of the great cinematic showcases for artisanal creativity.

In addition to a $350 million (and counting) worldwide box office haul to mark the success of the movie, Álvarez’ collaborators Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan received a collective Academy Award nomination for best visual effects. It’s an honor shared by four previous “Alien” films, and one that’s especially welcome...

Michael Fassbender, the Hollywood star of films like Inglourious Basterds, X-Men: First Class and The Killer, has expressed interest in returning to the Alien franchise to make another sequel. Fassbender gave life to David in Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, two essential but divisive entries in the universe created by Ridley Scott. However, Fassbender's comments suggest that his love of the franchise is down to one man alone; Ridley Scott. While Scott acted as producer and advisor on both Alien: Romulus, and the upcoming TV seires Alien: Earth, it is not clear whether Fassbender would only consider a return if he was being directed by Scott.

Fassbender recently spoke to Esquire about his latest TV show, The Agency. Based on the French thriller The Bureau, the series follows Brandon Colby, aka Martian, an international spy living undercover. It premiered on Showtime last November, and its last episode ran a few days ago.

The following article contains spoilers for 1979’s Alien.Veronica Cartwright, the actor known for her role as Lambert in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic Alien, has confirmed something about the chestburster scene that has always been discussed by those who participated in the film: the shock by the actors during the scene was very authentic, because they did not know firsthand how everything would happen.

Although she's not widely recognized as a horror icon, Cartwright is a veteran in the genre. When she was a teenager, she starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and later appeared in horror films like 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Witches of Eastwick. However, it was her role as Joan Lambert in Alien that made her a scream queen, even though her character met her demise in the sci-fi horror movie.

In the film, an intergalactic space crew responds to...

Actor Michael Biehn has a podcast called Just Foolin About with Michael Biehn, which can be found on YouTube. Biehn’s latest guest was Veronica Cartwright, who ran into the alien xenomorph in the 1979 film Alien, seven years before Biehn had his own close encounter with the nasty creatures in Aliens. The full, 95 minute episode can be viewed at This Link – but to promote the episode, Biehn has dropped a 13 minute clip that shows Cartwright talking about the experience of working on Alien, including her reaction to the famous chestburster scene. You can check it out in the embed above.

Here’s the clip’s official description: Veronica Cartwright tells Michael Biehn about her time working on and filming Alien. She goes on to shed some light on whether or not the cast was truly unaware of what was about to happen in the iconic chestburster scene, and how genuine her reaction was.

Final voting is February 11-18. The 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2, and air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Et/ 4 p.m. Pt. We update our picks through awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.

The State of the Race

The Best Visual Effects nominees are “Alien: Romulus,” “Better Man,” “Dune: Part Two,” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” and “Wicked.” While the race has been shaping up as a simian battle between “Kingdom” and “Better Man” (both from Wētā FX), “Dune: Part Two” has emerged as the favorite for its epic work, building off the Oscar-winning “Dune.” However, “Kingdom” is certainly deserving of the franchise’s first win. The biggest hurdle has been the acting branch’s dislike of performance capture.

Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part 2” is more exciting and emotional, with Paul (Timothée Chalamet) leading the nomadic Fremen...

FX has released a new teaser for its all-new Original TV series Alien: Earth, which will premiere this summer on Hulu and with Hulu on Disney+. New key art for the series was also revealed.

When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s Alien: Earth, from creator Noah Hawley.

Alien: Earth is set two years before the events of the 1979 film Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto.

Lead by Chandler, the series showcases an expansive international cast that includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El.

As with any anticipated sequel to popular franchises, the upcoming continuation of 2023's Alien: Romulus has become the subject of rumors regarding its plot details since earlier last year, when it was first announced that it was happening. A new rumor from the fan website Alien vs. Predator Galaxy has been shot down by the director of Romulus and the upcoming film, Fede Álvarez. The report in question stated that there had been talks with franchise star Sigourney Weaver, who had been in the original four Alien films, to return as Ellen Ripley for the upcoming sequel.

Álvarez took to the social media platform X to respond to the AvP fan website directly, stating that the rumor is "fun gossip. But not true at all," quickly stomping out any ideas or speculations that the Alien franchise would be bringing back the iconic character from its previous nine films. Romulus, set...

Another day, and another pernicious movie-related rumor has been making the rounds. This time, word began to buzz that 20th Century Studios was "considering" the idea of bringing back acclaimed actor and franchise star Sigourney Weaver to reprise her legendary role as Ellen Ripley in the still-unconfirmed sequel to "Alien: Romulus." This latest report came courtesy of scooper Daniel Richtman (also known by his social media handle DanielRPK) in a recent Patreon post exclusively available to subscribers, claiming that the powers that be were looking into the use of widely prevalent de-aging technology in order to make this version of Ripley period-accurate, as "Romulus" took place roughly 20 years after the events of the original "Alien" movie.

Well, consider this rumor squashed. No less an authority than "Romulus" director and co-writer Fede Álvarez confirmed as much in a post made on X (the website/app formerly and still popularly known as...

This year's Oscar nominations are like most year's Oscar nominations: a mix of snubs (Challengers was completely shut out) and mostly pleasant surprises (Academy voters got around to watching The Apprentice after all), your reaction to which may vary depending on your personal taste as well as your capacity for caring about awards in such a precarious time. But one nomination in particular feels particularly egregious. Alien: Romulus, a perfectly good Alien sequel, received a nod for Best Visual Effects – arguably the one nomination it didn't deserve.

You probably know where this is heading. It's not that Alien: Romulus doesn't generally have good visual effects. Set between Ridley Scott's Alien, which I consider to be the best film of all time, and James Cameron's Aliens, one of the best sequels of all time, Fede Álvarez's entry successfully splits the difference between both. Álvarez's film is more indebted to Scott's 1979 classic,...

Alien: Romulus takes place between the events of Sir Ridley Scott's Alien and James Cameron's Aliens, a creative decision which opened the door to exciting cameos and world-building opportunities.

The movie cleverly brought back Ian Holm as the android Rook after the late actor previously played Ash in the 1979 classic. There was some controversy due to the use of CGI and AI, but longtime fans appreciated the connective tissue with what's come before.

Alien: Romulus ended with something of a cliffhanger and filmmaker Fede Álvarez is already hard at work on a sequel. According to insider Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com), there are discussions about bringing back Sigourney Weaver's Ripley with de-aging technology.

Disney has mastered the ability to de-age actors - largely through MCU projects - so we've no doubt Weaver would look as badass as ever returning to her most iconic role.

There are several...

Both The Substance and Nosferatu have received a handful of major nominations for the Academy Awards, but they’re not the only horror movies getting recognition this year.

Fede Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus has received a nomination for Best Visual Effects, competing against Better Man, Dune: Part Two, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Wicked.

It’s interesting to note that Ridley Scott’s original sci-fi horror classic Alien took home the trophy for Best Visual Effects at the Oscars in 1980, and James Cameron’s action-packed sequel Aliens followed suit by winning the same major award at the Oscars in 1987. Alien 3 was later nominated in the same category at the Academy Awards in 1993, but did not win.

It wasn’t until 2013 that the Alien franchise popped back up at the Oscars, with Prometheus being nominated for its Visual Effects. This year’s nomination for Alien: Romulus will...

Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist” sparked controversy over the weekend after it became more widely known that AI was used during postproduction for enhancing stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones’ Hungarian language dialogue. The subject of AI already puts many in Hollywood on edge, but it’s also being increasingly used in filmmaking. In this case, its use comes in a film that is considered among the Oscar frontrunners. But how was it actually used, and did the use of AI influence the performances in any way?

Writer-director Corbet was quick to release a statement, saying that it did not. “Adrien and Felicity’s performances are completely their own,” asserted Corbet as part of a statement to Variety. “They worked for months with dialect coach Tanera Marshall to perfect their accents. Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy.

A new meta-project tied to the popular horror franchise Return of the Living Dead will bring two of the original film's stars back from the beyond. The film, titled Trash's Revenge, will see the, well, return of Return of the Living Dead actors Linnea Quigley, Beverly Randolph, Thom Mathews, Miguel Nunez, John Philbin, and, "through the magic of CGI," deceased actors James Karen and Don Calfa, Bloody Disgusting reports. Karen and Calfa, both veteran character actors with long careers in movies and TV, famously played Frank and Ernie, respectively, in the first film in the comedy horror series. Karen passed away in 2018, and Calfa in 2016. It isn't clear how extensive their appearances in Trash's Revenge will be, but no doubt the use of CGI to bring them back to screens will be deeply controversial.

The film is currently being crowdfunded via Cinebacker, where it's described as "a tribute to the...

The battle scenes in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy are among some of the greatest in cinema history. The Battle of Helm's Deep in The Two Towers and the Ride of the Rohirrim and the final Battle of the Pelennor Fields from Return of the King are fan favorites due to their grand scale, brilliant visual effects, and standout performances from the entire cast. But, you might be surprised to learn that the battles in J.R.R. Tolkien's seminal fantasy world are historically accurate.

Ancient historian, Roel Konijnendijk, sat down with Insider to rate battle scenes from movies, including The Lord of the Rings. He was shown several battles from The Return of the King, and surprisingly had high praise for them in terms of accuracy. He began with the endlessly quoted "Ride Now" scene from the Ride of the Rohirrim. "Him slapping the lances with his sword,...

Sir Ridley Scott was worried that the visual effects in ‘Alien’ wouldn’t be scary enough.The 87-year-old director helmed the 1979 flick that went on to become an iconic example of sci-fi film history, but he has now admitted he was concerned that the practical effects - particularly the rubber Xenomorph suit worn by Bolaji Badejo - may not live up to the frightening nature he was aiming for.In a video with GQ, Scott said: “Don’t forget, we had no digital effects in those days.“Nothing. And so backdrops have to be painted, and I have to find a very tall, thin man to squeeze into a rubber suit.“And therefore, when you do that, you can shoot very little, show as little as possible, because it doesn’t really hold up.”The ‘Gladiator II’ filmmaker emphasised that ’Alien’s success was nearly completely down to the Xenomorph...

Ridley Scott recently revealed some of his biggest fears he encountered while filming the iconic 1979 sci-fi horror film Alien. He also talked about his concerns with the franchise's Xenomorph villain.

In a video with GQ, Scott talked about his process working on the original Alien movie, and how he was afraid that the movie wouldn't have enough scares. "Don’t forget, we had no digital effects in those days," he said. "Nothing. And so backdrops have to be painted, and I have to find a very tall, thin man to squeeze into a rubber suit. And therefore, when you do that, you can shoot very little, show as little as possible, because it doesn’t really hold up."

Related 'I Hate That So Much': VFX Artist Laments Ridley Scott Cutting Back CGI on 1 Major Moment in Prometheus

Ridley Scott's Prometheus removed CGI for one character's crucial transformation, and VFX artists...

Ridley Scott is one of the most accomplished filmmakers of all time. Even though he didn't direct his first feature film until he was 40 years old, which is older than most filmmakers, he has directed an impressive 29 films. His debut feature, The Duelists, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, which set the stage for his incredibly successful career. Some of Ridley Scott's best movies include Blade Runner, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, Gladiator, and its recently released sequel, Gladiator II.

These films prove that Scott is one of the most talented directors of his generation. Most of his movies are incredibly ambitious, large-scale genre films. He has made several historical epics but has also continuously shown interest in the science fiction genre. Scott's first two sci-fi films are actually commonly recognized as two of the best science-fiction movies of all time. His second film...

‘Alien: Romulus’ received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its striking visuals, claustrophobic tension, and a strong performance by Cailee Spaeny. Many called it one of the best sequels in the ‘Alien’ franchise, with some even comparing it to the classic ‘Aliens.’

However, some critics felt it lacked depth in character development and ambition, with a few citing the film’s formulaic approach and predictable pacing, there’s also that “best moments” highlight reel that not many fans liked.

Despite some CGI crimes, especially the scene involving the late Ian Holm, which was subsequently fixed for home release, the movie earned visual effects nominations at major awards such as the Hollywood Professional Association Awards, the St. Louis Film Critics Association, and the Aacta Awards. With some accolades still pending, the film remains a strong contender in the industry.

Now Industrial Light & Magic (Ilm), a famous company that creates special effects for movies,...

Alien: Romulus made several new additions to the Alien franchise's lore, but Fede Álvarez's movie also represented a thematic and narrative return to the very first movie in the series. While the film's design and story clearly harkened back to Ridley Scott's 1979 original, one of Romulus' biggest surprises involved recreating key Alien cast member, Ian Holm, for a central role in the 2024 sequel. Given Holm's passing in 2020, his appearance was simultaneously unexpected and an impressive technical feat.

While Holm's likeness was not used to bring his original character, Ash, back, his performance helped fulfill a similar criteria in the story. As science officer Rook, Holm was both an eerie reminder of the untrustworthy nature of Alien synthetics and a direct callback to one of the franchise's most iconic villains. His presence undoubtedly helped Alien: Romulus evoke the sense of nostalgia that Álvarez was obviously striving for. However,...

Luca Guadagnino released two films in 2024, and coming off the energetic “Challengers” was the more introspective “Queer.” The filmmaker’s latest stars Daniel Craig as William Lee, a fictionalized stand-in for author William S. Burroughs, whose slender novel the movie is based on.

The movie premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and later played the New York Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival. A24 acquired the domestic distribution rights to the movie, with Mubi releasing the movie internationally.

But how can you watch Guadagnino’s latest? Read on to find out.

Is “Queer” streaming?

After being released in theaters last November and December, “Queer” is now finally available to rent on Digital. The film will eventually be streaming on Max due to an output deal between the streamer and A24, but a streaming release date has not yet been revealed. “Queer” will also be released on Blu-ray in April.

After scaring up more than $350 million at the global box office and landing the Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 79%, Alien: Romulus helped roar fresh life back into the dilapidated franchise. Serving as a chapter in between Ridley Scott’s 1979 film, Alien, and James Cameron’s 1986 sequel, Aliens, the Fede Alvarez-helmed movie was a standalone piece that featured an all-new cast — well, almost. While Sigourney Weaver was nowhere to be found, instead passing the baton of of the final girl onto Cailee Spaeny, a familiar face did, in fact, pop up. That would be the late Ian Holm, who appeared in the movie that started it all as Ash — the android who served as a secondary antagonist, giving Weaver’s Ellen Ripley a run for her money. In the new film, Holm’s likeness was used for a bot that had the same face as Ash but was...

Though Alien: Romulus received a mostly positive response from critics and fans, one aspect of the movie that was met with almost universal backlash was the likeness of a deceased actor being used for a new character via VFX.

When Rain Carradine and her crew arrive on the derelict space station, they learn that the ship's android is still functional despite clearly being in very bad shape after a Xenomorph attack. They plug him in to discover what happened, and we see that the synthetic is the same model as Ash from Ridley Scott's original movie.

The late Ian Holm was "resurrected" (with permission from the actor's estate) to achieve this, but even setting aside the controversy surrounding the practice of "digital necromancy," the effects used to portray the character were... not the best.

Some shots looked okay, but for the majority of Rook's screen-time, his face basically...

Director Fede Alvarez recently shared with ‘Empire Magazine’ that the digital recreation of the late actor Ian Holm, who portrayed the android Rook, was improved after the film’s theatrical release.

In ‘Alien: Romulus,’ Rook is a disembodied head from the same model of android as Holm’s character, Ash, from the original 1979 ‘Alien’ film. Since Holm passed away in 2020, the filmmakers got permission from his estate to use his likeness for this new android character.

The movie received various criticisms, with one of the main complaints being about the Rook character, especially the use of CGI. Many viewers found the digital effects less than convincing. Alvarez explained that, due to time constraints during post-production, the team wasn’t able to perfect the CGI in time for the movie’s theatrical release.

“I wasn’t 100 percent happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention,...

“Alien: Romulus” director Fede Álvarez said in an interview with Empire magazine that he understands why some viewers reacted negatively to the appearance of late actor Ian Holm in the film. Holm played the android Ash in Ridley Scott’s original “Alien” film and died in 2020 at 88 years old. The actor’s likeness was resurrected in “Romulus” via CGI for a new android character named Rook, but many viewers complained that Rook’s appearance was mostly bad visual effects that looked like a muddled Ian Holm deepfake. Álvarez would seem to agree.

“We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right,” the director admitted to Empire. “I wasn’t 100 percent happy with some of the shots, where you could feel a bit more the CG intervention. So, for people that react negatively, I don’t blame them.”

Álvarez revealed that he corrected Rook’s visual appearance for...

For fans of “Alien: Romulus” looking to watch from home, the controversial Ian Holm CGI has been corrected for folks awaiting the home entertainment release, director Fede Álvarez assured. He said it looks “way better” than what fans saw in theaters.

“We fixed it,” Álvarez told Empire in a recent interview, acknowledging that a lot of fans thought the film fumbled its CGI recreation of Holm, who reappeared in the film as android Rook, the same make and model of the iconic Ash in the original “Alien.”

Holm, however, died in 2020, and “Alien: Romulus” got permission from his widow to incorporate his likeness into the film using CGI technology.

Álvarez said the initial illusion was created through a “mix of techniques.”

“We made it better for the release right now … It’s way better,” Álvarez continued. “I convinced the studio we need to spend the money and make sure we...