Alien: Romulus Concept Art Reveals Grotesque Original Design for The Offspring

Alien: Romulus Concept Art Reveals Grotesque Original Design for The Offspring

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of immersion into the vast and terrifying universe of the Alien franchise, I can confidently say that the latest addition to the saga, Alien: Romulus, has undeniably left an indelible mark on my psyche. The Offspring, that grotesque amalgamation of xenomorph, human, and Engineer, has not only solidified its place in the pantheon of horror icons but has also managed to elicit a visceral response that transcends mere fear.


In the Alien series, the character Romulus gained notoriety, particularly due to the dramatic unveiling of “The Offspring” – a monstrous hybrid of xenomorph, human, and Engineer – birthed from the infected body of Kay (Isabela Merced). This unique design stirred quite a reaction within Alien enthusiasts, yet despite the jokes at its expense, The Offspring continues to linger in the minds of many viewers, remaining a significant point of discussion.

Romulus” – and it’s intriguing, if not a bit unsettling.

In Hallett’s interpretation of The Offspring, there is a significant nod to the Xenomorph queen from movies such as Aliens and Alien Resurrection. This creature exhibits the queen’s physical form, accompanied by a spiked, bulbous tail. However, instead of the typical xenomorph features like a faceless visage and a second mouth, it sports an Engineer’s translucent skin and a humanoid face at the end of its helmet-like head. Some versions of The Offspring are illustrated with wings and tendrils sprouting from its back, while others replace these features with a spiked back or shorter wings. Additionally, certain sketches alter the body structure to give The Offspring a more spidery or frog-like appearance, which can be quite unnerving.

In crafting The Offspring (Alien: Romulus), its director Fede Alvarez chose to build upon the rich backstory of the Alien franchise, as envisioned by Ridley Scott, particularly his prequel films Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. Scott’s revelations about the xenomorphs’ origins and the Engineer race introduced a lethal mutagen substance that both eliminates life and spawns wild mutations in infected populations. Alien: Romulus continued this narrative, unveiling the shocking truth that Weyland-Yutani scientists had developed their own strain of the original Engineer mutagen, aiming to augment human DNA.

Previously, we’ve witnessed how the Prometheus strain transforms a human embryo into a swiftly developing monster. If Guillermo del Toro returns for an “Alien: Romulus” sequel, it would be intriguing to explore whether he persists in exploring the various terrifying shapes xenomorph DNA might assume.

Currently, at the point of composition, “Alien: Romulus” has grossed an impressive $331.5 million against a production budget of only $80 million, making it the second largest financial triumph in the Alien series.

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2024-09-19 19:39