Alien: Romulus

The Rough Cut

Jake Roberts ACE, Will Files, Polly McKinnon and Lee Gilmore

Although the ALIEN: ROMULUS postproduction team of Jake Roberts ACE, Will Files, Polly McKinnon and Lee Gilmore came into this project with a wealth of knowledge and experience amongst them, they still learned a thing or two from director Fede Álvarez, including Fede's not-so-secret formula for jump scares, as well as the notion that clear dialogue isn't always as important as gripping action. Plus, they reveal the hidden intent of Álvarez to split ALIEN and ALIENS into the two sides of the REMUS/ROMULUS space station.

ALIEN: ROMULUS is the ninth installment in the Alien franchise, set between the events of ALIEN (1979) and ALIENS (1986). The film follows a group of downtrodden young space colonists in pursuit of better life conditions. During the course of their escape from endless servitude on a mining colony, they encounter hostile creatures while scavenging a derelict space station.

JAKE ROBERTS, ACE

After his work on CITADEL (2012), STARRED UP (2013), THE RIOT CLUB (2014) and BROOKLYN (2015), Roberts earned an Oscar nomination for Best Film Editing for his work on HELL OR HIGH WATER (2016) starring Chris Pine. The movie also garnered him a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award. Roberts then cut OUTLAW KING (2018) for Netflix directed by David Mackenzie. He then began collaborating with director Alex Garland, editing his 2020 miniseries DEVS as well as his film, MEN (2022). Prior to ALIEN: ROMULUS, Jake cut Garland's CIVIL WAR (2024).

WILL FILES

Will Files is known for his work on THE INVISIBLE MAN (2020), VENOM (2018), WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES (2017), STAR WARS: EPISODE VII – THE FORCE AWAKENS (2017) and CLOVERFIELD (2008).

POLLY McKINNON

Polly McKinnon is known for DISTRICT 9 (2009), FORD V FERRARI (2019) and INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (2023). In 2019 she won a Golden Reel Award for her sound editing on EXTINCTION (2018).

LEE GILMORE

Lee Gilmore is known for BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017), DUNE (2021) and THE BATMAN (2022). Gilmore also won an Emmy for his work on the feature film, PREY (2022).

Editing Alien: Romulus

In our discussion with the Alien: Romulus postproduction team, we talk about:

• Bringing the noise to the set
• Clubbing with Fincher
• Going "Holm" again
• The sweet sound of saturated seventies screams
• Fede's formula for jump scares

The Credits

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Listen to Jake talk about his work on CIVIL WAR

Hear Will discuss the psychology of SOUND DESIGN and how he employed it on GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE and THE BATMAN

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