*Alien: Romulus* has been a resounding success, captivating both critics and fans alike, and its impressive box office haul has paved the way for a sequel. However, one aspect of the film received widespread criticism: the CGI used to bring back the late Ian Holm, who played the iconic android Ash in Ridley Scott's original *Alien*. Holm's CGI appearance in *Alien: Romulus* was so poorly received that a popular fan edit completely removed his character from the narrative.

Director Fede Alvarez acknowledged the issue in an interview with Empire, stating, "We just ran out of time in post-production to get it right. I wasn’t 100% 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." In response to the backlash, Alvarez and his team worked to improve the CGI for the home release. He explained, "We fixed it. We made it better for the release right now. I convinced the studio we need to spend the money and make sure we give the companies that were involved in making it the proper time to finish it and do it right. It’s so much better."

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For the home release, the focus shifted more towards practical puppet work rather than CGI. Despite these efforts, fans remain divided on whether the changes truly enhance Holm's appearance. Some have noted a slight improvement, but many still find it distracting and question the necessity of Holm's return. On Reddit, user Kwtwo1983 remarked, "Better, but still awfully uncanny… and for no sound reason." Thelastcupoftea added, "Should’ve messed his face up much more," while Smug_amoeba commented, "Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie…" Worried_Bowl_9489 observed, "Both look bad and one is a bit darker lol."

The comparison between the theatrical and home release versions shows a shift towards showcasing more of the practical puppet work, with less emphasis on the CGI face. TheUrPigeon expressed a strong opinion, stating, "Let's be real, it's still awful and garish to resurrect a dead man so needlessly. They can only improve upon it so much because the initial effort was so poor."

Despite the CGI controversy, *Alien: Romulus* successfully revitalized the franchise, grossing an impressive $350 million globally upon its summer release. The film's success has led 20th Century Studios to announce plans for *Alien: Romulus 2*, which will continue the story from the first movie, with Fede Alvarez potentially returning to direct.