We're not exactly shocked by this news, but it's been confirmed that Alien: Romulus will be R-Rated. That's the same rating as every other instalment in the long-running sci-fi/horror franchise...well, aside from one poorly received effort.
2013's Alien vs. Predator was rated PG-13, though its sequel, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, ultimately went down the R-Rated route (and it still sucked despite the potential that "vs." premise has).
Given filmmaker Fede Alvarez's history with horror - including Evil Dead and Don't Breathe - it makes sense that he likely has a terrifying gore-fest in store for us. The MPA has yet to reveal specific reasoning behind this rating but it has been confirmed by 20th Century Studios.
Alvarez recently opened up on his approach to Alien: Romulus, confirming it takes place before Alien and Aliens. Don't worry if you're not well-versed in the franchise, though, as this sounds like a good entry point for newcomers.
"The way we crafted it is if you haven’t seen any of them, I’m jealous because you’ll have an incredible experience," he told The Hollywood Reporter (via FearHQ.com). "You’ll have all these worlds of Alien coming at you, and you’ve never experienced any of this. You don’t know how the creature is born, and you don’t know any of these things. That’s fantastic. You’ll have a blast."
"Now, if you’ve seen the others, then it’s a completely different experience in a way, because you’ll see and you’ll find those connections with the other movies. And if you’re a fan, you’ll be that person who annoys your friends in the theater, by telling them that you know what this is from and where that gun is from and what the characters are talking about."
"So it is crafted in that way, and hopefully it works that way for everybody, but it is connected to all of them," Alvarez continued. "I love all of those movies. I didn’t want to omit or ignore any of them when it comes to connections at a story level, character level, technology level and creature level. There’s always connections from Alien to Alien: Covenant."
In Alien: Romulus, while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonisers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
The movie also stars David Jonsson (Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (The Last of Us), Spike Fearn (Aftersun), and Aileen Wu and is set to arrive in theaters on August 16.