In a recent chat with CNN, up-and-coming actor Aileen Wu expressed her excitement about her feature film debut in “Alien: Romulus,” calling the experience “a bit unreal.” Wu shared, “It’s just been learning as I go of how rich this world is, and the impact it’s had on people for the last 45 years.”
“Romulus” is the seventh official film in the “Alien” franchise, known for its iconic xenomorph aliens. Director Fede Álvarez opted for practical effects in the film, foregoing green screens and tennis balls. Wu described working with the creatures as “quite disturbing” due to their realistic appearance.
The franchise has a long history of using practical effects, dating back to the original film’s iconic death scene. Wu, who plays a character with a run-in with the creatures, spent significant time on set with practical effects such as facehuggers.
Wu expressed sympathy for fans participating in viral marketing campaigns involving facehuggers, admitting that watching the footage made her “feel queasy and not comfortable.” She detailed the challenges of matching her breathing to the facehugger’s movements on set.
Despite the film’s nods to past entries in the franchise, some elements are coincidental, such as Wu’s shaved head. Wu explained that she adopted the hairstyle in solidarity with a family member battling cancer, a decision made before filming “Alien: Romulus.”
When asked about future roles in the sci-fi/horror genre, Wu expressed interest but mentioned taking a break first. She highlighted the physical and intense nature of such roles, describing them as “freeing.”
“Alien: Romulus” is currently screening in theaters.
