The Offspring Metamorphosis: Was Xenomorph XX121 its Final Form?

Check out Mike's Monsters' video here: • ALIEN ROMULUS: What Ch...

[@ikenosis8160]

Mark Zuckerberg origin story.

[@Billbeaux]

The Zuckermorph**

[@Punmaster9001]

That's an insult to the offspring

[@wonkawilly5573]

😂​@@Billbeaux

[@amelietrue]

I like ur pfp

[@brandonedwards1057]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@fen4554]

I think the offspring being its own thing is good. The idea that the black goo can basically make endless mutations covers that. That all roads seem to lead back to the xenomorph is a neat idea, but is very reductive to everything we've seen in the series. I didn't like the idea that David made the Xeno's either, and I'm glad that turned out to be an iteration, rather than a origin.

[@KAISERaw17]

I’m hoping they have some sort of “here’s all the answers but not really moment” that pays off well for a lot of people. I love the idea of everything related to the black goo winding up being related to the xenomorph in some way. But hopefully it’s more than that. The alien rpg, while a TTRPG game, has done a good job of connecting dots. Even if not canon, I hope they take some story beats from the rpg!

[@JasonGuterrez]

To me it makes sense that the xenomorphs would have been created by an android. The androids being fascinated by and nurturing the various aliens, often at the expense of themselves and others is a recurring theme in this universe. Its almost as if the black goo and its progeny have some kind of hypnotic hold on them.

[@JasonGuterrez]

And they definitely should have left the original ending. The offspring is derpy and pitiful looking. You just feel bad for it.

[@fen4554]

@ I'm kinda surprised Alien Theory hasn't talked about it at all, I wasn't aware of an TT aliens games, especially ones that attempted to expand the lore.

[@Datan0de]

​@@KAISERaw17I didn't even know that there was an Alien RPG! I frequently pick up RPGs just for the world building. I've done that for Terminator, Blade Runner, and Elite Dangerous, and having a pure source book about the world that isn't tied to a specific story within it adds a lot of depth and detail to these fascinating universes. I may have to add Alien to that list.

[@singaporeghostclub]

The Offsprings: "You got to keep 'em separated!"

[@fawcett682]

Lolol I tip my hat to you. Well done

[@kb470]

HeyyyAAAAYYYYYYY

[@thorshammer8033]

@@kb470 Come out and play

[@nestorperena8629]

miss the 90s 😢

[@LazzarrusLong]

Nice one! 😎

[@LegoMinifigs1]

My personal headcanon, (until more lore is added), is that the black goo is an ancient substance that the Engineers discovered and experimented on. The Xenomorph is a naturally evolved creature with a genetic structure that is partially stable and partially unstable; it can assimilate traits from other species, but ultimately favors a specific body plan with certain traits that appear in every instance.

[@baileyduncan309]

You could expand on that with the Xeno. I like to think that the Xenomorph needs other species to reproduce/complete their life cycle e.g the chestburster. They take some DNA from the host species and that is manifested in whatever traits a particular specimen displays (such as favouring a bipedal stance from human born specimens or a quadraped stance as seen on the runner, dog/cow born alien to name a few). Alongside these traits, all examples of the xenomorph have similar architecture, the black body, bio mechanical features, eye less dome face and the inner jaw and acid blood etc.These traits could be caused by the DNA from the original xenomorph species being more dominant traits. While they may wish to express all of their original species traits, it may not help to survive in the environment they may be in so they can adapt by taking traits from the species native to the environment allowing for a diversity in their forms with the same common traits being the example of their true species genetic heritage.

[@Theonetruewonderfly]

The Offspring Xenomorph: "This isn't even my final form!"

[@Exstellisvenimus]

Good name for a puppy.

[@briansharp4002]

And the final form is 2 feet tall. And laughs at all their puny attempts to stop it.

[@AkumaNoInu]

perfect xenoCell

[@RemainIndoorsPainting]

Having it change to a xenomorph feels like a progression of the Egg Morphing concept, the idea that these things are so insidious that they won’t just impregnate with face huggers, their very DNA will change you or your offspring into them.

[@Anamnesis]

Definitely a nod to William Gibson's original Alien 3 script, which featured someone literally being ripped apart or exploded from the inside out by a fully grown xeno, like it was wearing them as a skin suit... as though their skeleton became the creature and it grew so rapidly it just shed them like it was molting or something, like a mashup of the body horror from The Fly. Didn't really make a ton of sense given what we're used to, but could've been interesting if they'd explained it further.

[@DanHarkless_Halloween_YTPs_etc]

Great add about the Gibson script - thanks for that. I think the Offspring was good as-is, but a _human_ going through that process could be a great horror effect. And yeah, I also found the skin-shedding pre-production art to be (a little too?) reminiscent of Cronenberg's _The Fly._

[@NatePilgrim]

It was a great idea to leave it as it was in the final cut. It is a whole universe to explore, we don't have to go to the same monster, the same characters, and the same settings in every movie, Ash/Rook was more than enough

[@Runescythe9852]

I'd honestly disagree personally. What made the 'Aliens' franchise so interesting was the Xenomorph species itself and the human's constantly being at odds with it as well as any other species that encounter them. Diverging into a new type of monster, rather than being a new variant of the species makes it less 'alien' and more about human mutation. Kinda like how Resident Evil became less about being a 'Zombie' franchise, and became more about bio weapons in general. Its great for some audiences, but then it becomes a diverging point where people just lose interest in others.

[@knightbane3752]

Agreed, that’s wheee Star Wars isn’t doing as well as it could be, big galaxy but same characters or character types every single time.

[@Runescythe9852]

@@MargotK-b5m The xenomorphs themselves are plenty terrifying on their own merits. Its the fact that the companies who keep making the movies beyond its sequel keep trying to reinvent the wheel over and over again that it never seems to want to move forward, but instead keep trying to explain away the creature's origins. Hell, we haven't seen a decent Colonial Marines movie after Aliens.

[@Runescythe9852]

@@MargotK-b5m People fetishize alot of weird things over the internet. Rule 34 is weird that way. As far as the origin stuff goes, it just feels better to see Weyland's in their constant obsession of trying and failing again and again to gain specimens through the guise of legitimate business. Hell, seeing how they also interact with the Yautja, which also has an interest in both species, makes for interesting human vs human vs xenomorph vs predator scenarios, which we see play out in movies, comics, and games. I'd honestly love to see colonial marines vs the Yautja one day, as I love the idea that as technologically advanced we become, we are still a small blip in the universe compared to the terrors that lay within the dark. Even in Aliens, we see how the human's, despite their ingenuity, strength, discipline, and technology, all it would take is one wrong move to be on the pointed end of a barbed tail or combi stick. That to me is one of the biggest themes that always stood out to me over the years at least.

[@markusbalbach7608]

@@Runescythe9852 youve SEEN how well the audience recieved Camerons introduction of the queen. And it was a great move that opened the universe further up. ive always read the comix too since the late 80s and they spun it even further...but never disrespecting lore and origin, always staying canonical. I personally would LOVE a game like Borderlands within the Xeno universe!

[@justinriley]

I shudder to imagine what the final form of the offspring would like it if it had fully grown.

[@evanstential]

It like still alive… 😅

[@alexprost7505]

I want to see mature version of the newborn, she would kicks ass a offspring bastard

[@m00nshad0w81]

The Offspring was arguably one of the most fascinating and disturbing moments in the whole franchise. And I loved as much as I was repulsed by it. I've said it before snd I'll say it again: Romulus is easily my 3rd favorite movie in the franchise, afrer the 2 originals. Thanks for the upload! Always fascinating to watch.

[@Billbeaux]

The Zuckermorph 😂😂

[@ShadowBroker000]

AHahahahaahahahahah

[@pumpkineater23]

Haha.. yes I can see the resemblance.

[@avaca-iq4fm]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@faith1980]

The Xenomusk…

[@PoorProPlayer]

I'm glad it didn't become the xenomorph. Xeno stuff has been explored so much already it's refreshing to see other mutations and ideas that don't just circle back to the same old territory. It's why I liked Prometheus despite it's obvious flaws. I loved the ideas and concepts it was trying to explore that brought the elements of sci-fi back in focus rather than just horror

[@jap7384]

same here!

[@shinkucorp]

Agreed, the science is always the most interesting.

[@billwilson1225]

It became a Necromorph instead.

[@2020-p2z]

I like the Offspring being its own thing. It is clearly xenomorph adjacent, and there's no mistaking the engineer influence in its design, so it really is an unholy trinity. It makes this black goo plot point seem a lot more terrifying, because it doesn't just lead to the xenomorph every time. The idea that this black goo is the very essence of life itself, and that it routinely spawns these alien monstrosities is utterly horrifying, and I love it.

[@GamePlayer553]

I actually really like the idea of WY trying a few different methods of harnessing the Xenomorph to make Humans better, it failing, and they end up creating monstrosities like the Offsrping and the Newborn from Resurrection. It adds some irony that a creation of Mankind made something so perfect humans couldn't recreate it or do anything but be consumed (literally and figuratively) by seeking to join or surpass it. I will say, I much prefer the hybrid look as opposed to it just turning into a xenomorph but big

[@marklindsey4112]

Great vid as ever. Love it the way it was in the final cut, if everything ends up being a xenomorph then nothing new ever gets offered. The black goo was by far one of the best additions given to the franchise by Prometheus and that opportunity to give us something related, but new was taken up really well by Romulus. The offspring's design was beautifully revolting and the fact that we learn such a small amount about it gives such a lovely sense of mystery and intrigue for the future of Alien. For me, it's a good thing Alvarez listened to Scott and Garland. Cannot wait to see what comes next.

[@LV-dz5vg]

I think the Offspring evolving into that winged creature would have been so cool. For it to just revert back into a typical Xeno would have negated the fact it was a Tri-hybrid🫤.

[@billmcdermott9647]

I agree.. it would have been a anti climax to see it turn into just another Xeno

[@DanteYewToob]

What winged creature? Did I miss something? lol

[@billmcdermott9647]

@ is it in the concept art?

[@LV-dz5vg]

@@DanteYewToob lol the artist who came up with the design for the Offspring had more rough drafts where it would molt between several humanoid forms. Really disturbing stuff😳, look into alien Offspring rough drafts.

[@LV-dz5vg]

@@billmcdermott9647 yea a completely separate few from the same artist, look into the various rough drafts of the offspring molting. There are some with wings, tendrils, and even more human features.

[@FootOfOrion]

I think that a few more Xeno-like traits would’ve been cool, but it would be pretty boring to have just a Xenomorph be the end-design of the Offspring. I think the offspring is so memorable because it’s so uncanny and gross and weird and different. If the endgame was to have the fourth act creature be just another xenomorph, just facehug Kay or something. I’m glad they went the way they did.

[@MarioLanzas.]

I would have been ok with this version too. maybe not totally evolving into the classic xenomorph design, but close to it. as he said, like the dominant DNA taking over is an interesting concept. I like both

[@AdragusJames]

I have been enjoying these uploads. Michiko...great story.

[@sauravnarayan2294]

Last time I came this early nostromo was still intact

[@chrissyknowsitall5170]

🤣🤣🤣 good one!!

[@LazzarrusLong]

Hahah- wait, what?! LoLz 😄

[@costasspartan1894]

The Queen Alien will always be #1 in regards to looks , design etc in my opinion.

[@Fulgrim2]

I always treated this stuff as something we just can’t control. As a species we simply don’t have the knowledge or technology to use it properly, hence for example the crushed rat comes back normal before turning in a final boss of a Resident Evil game.

[@EmpyreanDreamer]

I think they made the right call. What makes the Offspring so unnerving is not just the creepy uncanney valley element but the fact that it grows and changes so much and you only see it for a few minutes at most. Not seeing how far those changes might have gone is what really cements the fear factor. Not to mention keeping it a mystery makes it more intriguing in the long run.

[@Merecir]

And the funny thing is that it is just a real dude in a rubber suit. 😅

[@EmpyreanDreamer]

@@Merecir We're aware. And to be honest that makes it scarier I wouldn't want to run into that guy in a dark alley lol.

[@leagreenall5972]

I actually like seeing the quick evolution of the offspring. In no other production have we seen what happens between the initial birth and final adult form. I really enjoyed the transformation and would have loved to see it to its completion. You said one point that really resonated with me - which DNA was winning the battle. I would have liked to have seen the battle between the engineer DNA and the xenomorph. I loved seeing the tail grow and an almost slow transformation off 'American Werewolf in London' -esque vibe going - again something we have never seen before and was an excellent trip :)

[@tehprimelime1063]

loved the offspring addition to the movie/lore. part of what makes Alien so great to me is all the variants which are possible and how they can evolve/behave to the environment. What made Alien 3 great (for me) was seeing the quadruped Ox/Dog Alien, it is the saving grave of that movie for me. The actor behind the Offspring did an amazing job too and i hope to see him back soon! he's very much into his craft and deserves to play many more characters.

[@ChickenJoe2042]

110% agree, that actor could have his own niche in movies. Similarly to Doug Jones but with much larger creature designs

[@Trowarr]

That offspring had the fastest growth in the entire franchise. From baby sized to grow fully to grow fully it took just a few minutes. Didn't notice the tail growing from 4:55 to 5:14 until this clip.

[@angelchayne]

Thank you for the great video! Can't ait for the next. I love th Alien and Predator Lore and comics

[@michaelg.1786]

Interesting concept, but the ending was great. It keeps us all wondering and imagining what the offspring would've evolved into.

[@JaramF1]

Hey Alien Theory... your playlists are always playing in the background at bed time. Counts of Earth Wars is my favourite. Voice is perfect for chilling. Take care and sending love to you and your family

[@michellem5547]

Same! He has a relaxing voice which is great for insomnia!!

[@TearfulFriend18]

I think the visual of the Offspring transforming and ripping apart to become a Xenomorph would’ve been so cool to see in the theater. Those concept images are stunning and I can only imagine what Fede and his VFX team would do in a finalized version. But overall I think Ridley Scott and Alex Garland were correct. The Offspring is better served as its own creature, its own twisted unholy union. Besides, we just had a whole movie with the classic xeno designs. Ending it on something completely new was the right call methinks.

[@LiveFromAhch-To]

I've re-watched Romulus several times over the past few weeks, and the Offspring is really terrifying, they did a good with it (The Offspring is also one of my favorite '90s bands). I think the Offspring eventually becoming a alien/xeno would be interesting if they kept it white (like the neomorphs).

[@ChicknPoo]

Engineer on that Ozempic craze.

[@christopherfleming1047]

Lovely bit of lore. Your videos are brilliant. Thanks for your work

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

I literally just woke up from a dream that this thing was chasing me. And what did Alien Theory decide to upload today? *Shudders*

[@VikingTeddy]

It's still there, waiting, growing.

[@michaeljamesmoore]

Great video. “Big Chap” clarified a lot of the interning questions about whether Xenomorphs actually need to consume anything they kill, as well as new info about oxygen or being the absolute zero temperature of space. Two questions: 01. How long can a Neomorph survive if its only source of food is the corpse of the (once living) being it burst out of? For instance, if only one human and Walter went to the surface of the planet David turned into a global graveyard, and that human was infected with spores, how long can the Neomorph live on a planet devoid of an animal ecosystem and food chain? 02. Did the “Hybrid” (I think “Newborn” is already designated to the white hybrid alien from Resurrection) seem borderline defective to anyone else? It seemed to have trouble moving at any pace faster than a walk, and its primary offensive capabilities were devouring its mother and slicing an Android’s neck. Seems way less dangerous than Protomorphs, Xenomorphs, or Neomorphs. 03. Does the heavily engineer looking face suggest that the Engineers themselves were a byproduct of the pathogen, not just a race that formulated it? 04. Still have not finished Alien Isolation after all these years, but I’m catching up on it gradually since it’s awesome on Steam Deck (minus the save system, which is even more of a headache on a device that is running on a battery when it is not docked or plugged into the A/C adaptor). Would Amanda Ripley make more sense in a “Romulus” follow up than (what appears to the existing plan) a digitally “de-aged” Ellen Ripley? Keep up the good work. Looking forward to your videos about “Alien Earth” when it airs.

[@derpenstein713]

The Offspring was all too familiar due to mixing elements of Prometheus and Resurrection. I think it was neat in some aspects but not in others. However, I wish this had gone in a different direction. While we see the Offspring grow rapidly, I also wished that we saw its intelligence increase rapidly, like learning speech and some basic understanding of human tendencies, but with the complete lack of empathy. I know there wasn't a lot of time on screen to really explore that avenue but it would have been interesting to see it gain their trust to the point they wouldn't expect it to be a malevolent being.

[@tims9434]

Don't forget Aliens script as well

[@DanteYewToob]

That makes no sense though… intelligence is different from knowledge. Just because it might have been smart, that doesn’t mean it would make sense for it to just magically learn a language or gain knowledge of things it’s never seen. There are Japanese scientists much smarter than me but that doesn’t mean they just know English by osmosis or understand how to ride a motorcycle or something. Those are things that need to be taught. I do agree it would be cool if we saw it lean though, like having the Xeno instinct to hide and watch its prey and maybe learn how to operate the doors and during a scary chase she locks it in a hallway and it just unlocks the door using her code and comes in.. that could be very effective and show how quickly it is learning and make it feel like a different type of threat without something potentially cheesy like making it speak for no good reason. Speaking tends to humanize things too, so having it appear human-like but be silent with an unknown level of intelligence would be much scarier. Alien as a franchise has always been at its most scary when there’s the unknown, and being stalked by something that’s constantly evolving and growing in strength and intelligence but you have no way of knowing how strong, how smart, or what it’s capable of… that’s horrifying.

[@cpiff100]

I liked the offspring, it was unsettling and a good representation of the goo mixed with a human fetus, I’m glad it didn’t evolve further.

[@jakearaujo6028]

I wasn't a big fan of Ridley Scott's sequels, and stills I'd seen from the film didn't give me high hopes for the Offspring, but having seen it in action, I think it hits a very uncanny sort of horror, it's deeply unsettling. Playing on the same reproductive themes that are so core to the franchise, but with a more humanoid (engineer...oid?) appearance to really cement its status *as* offspring . I found it very effective. One interesting thing that I haven't seen anyone else bring up is that Kay survived the incredibly violent birth- almost certainly due to the presence of the black goo rewriting her DNA and increasing her endurance and regenerative abilities beyond human. That the Offspring found her alive even when it came back several minutes later means that Rook might have been completely honest and highly accurate in his assessment of the compound's effect on a mature human. Or she could have swollen into a flesh monster like the rat. Regardless, its effect on a fetus gave us the ending we got, which I was pleasantly surprised by how *creepy* it was.

[@Lieutenant_Scrotes]

I wonder if Kay would have survived the offspring feeding on her?

[@ColonelSternlove]

This original idea to see the offspring eventually become the Xenomorph is incredible. What a concept… life finds a way so to speak.

[@logicmemorysystems]

As its the result of pure Z-01 and a pregnant woman, my preferred theory is that the final form of the Offspring would be an Alien Queen - an egg layer with an ‘out-board’ womb. This obviously flies quite close to Alien Resurrection but feels in keeping with past/future lore

[@underscore_5450]

I love the offspring as it is and it was definitely the most bone chilling part of the movie but part me would've loved to see that xeno transformation. Something about the skin ripping away to reveal the slick black surface of the xenomorph face would've been so cool. I'd definitely be down to see something similar in a later project, like something that mutates humans into xenos in a really grotesque body horror way.

[@mikeyahl7363]

I liked Romulus. I think it's the only entry in the entirety of the Alien mythos that gives an actually realistic & believable explanation for why WeYu would want to experiment with the creatures.

[@Audfile]

I hope its in the extended cut. I love that it becomes a xenomorph. It makes that stare and that smile even more sinister.

[@rossallan3585]

Without seeing the rough cut mentioned? I think they made the right choice. I like that it does continue to shift as it grows, but keeping it a mix of human, engineer and Xenomorph really worked for me, as it ties the saga together in a pleasingly disturbing way. It doesn’t look natural at all, without looking unrealistically so.

[@Jurchin7]

I think the offspring was a good addition. It improved upon the newborn from Resurrection and was appropriately terrifying to look at. As far as it molting and metamorphosing into a regular xeno that would have been a pity to me. This thing was grotesque in all the right ways as it was.

[@muccmaster]

It would have been much better if the skull torn away and revealed a regular Xenomorph. It would make sense too considering the black goo is the Xeno DNA and it's the perfect organism so it would win out and become the dominant DNA.

[@networknomad5600]

It's WAY creepier as a new design than it just becoming another xenomorph underneath everything.

[@Octavius_DelMonte]

This sort of reminds me of the end of Shin Godzilla, the reimagining of Godzilla by Hideki Anno in which Godzilla is not just a monster but almost an evolutionary chain being fast tracked. At the end of the movie, we see that if Shin Godzilla was able to survive, its next evolution would have been in smaller, humanoid like creatures that would most likely overtake humanity as the dominat species on Earth.

[@marksimpkin9490]

Love your channel man !

[@fgdj2000]

I‘m glad they went with the final design instead of it turning into just another at this point rather familiar xenomorph. The Offstring design was very creepy and uncomfortable in the right way.

[@Saberous]

I would have liked the offspring to morph into the xeno. I think the Black substances ultimate design is to create the xeno.

[@socialaccount0000]

I wonder, if the research at Romulus Station was able to continue without a Xenomorph breakout, could Peter Waylon , or others, benefit from Xenomorph biology? Kay was seemingly fine after injection. Rook would've had no idea she was pregnant. Its possible she was only unharmed because the Fetus took all of the negative traits. Its also entirely possible that, if she was not pregnant, there would have been no negative side effects and she could have lived. Who knows.

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

I'm so glad I gave up on Romulus after 30 minutes, I just saved myself a lot of wasted time. I'll take Brad Dourif and his wacky xenomorph shenanigans any day, over this ripoff.

[@sassquatch212]

The offspring was the best part of Romulus. I love the xenomorph of course but would like to see more new and different creatures in the alien universe. Glad they didn’t go with the transformation.

[@TheXenomorphwarrior]

I prefer the idea of it evolving into a massive xenomorph and seeing it shedding the human and engineer aspects would have been a really cool visual

[@durotan5245]

This was such a great twist. Man I love this movie. Can’t wait for the sequel.

[@coltclassic45]

The Offspring: "Come out and play!"

[@Revenant_Art]

While watching the movie I was thinking that the offspring was slowly turning into a xenomorph. I now understand why he grew so fast. And I'm glad it didn't turn out that way. BTW, I just noticed that his tail is growing in the shot. 9:46

[@bigsarge2085]

Interesting. I thought the Offspring, as it was in "Romulus," was delightfully off-putting.

[@joesbeard]

I think seeing the scene where it morphs into a zeno would have been epic.

[@Rod_I._Rigo]

I absolutely love your channel! It's one of the few that I get all notifications on. I hope you one day make a video on the fact that the Narcissus space shuttle is in the Romulus space station. I would love your theory on how did it get there? Why is it there? And how did it float away? Was it released on purpose or simply broke free? I don't think they opened it cuz, you can clearly see in ALIENS, that the harpoon gun is Still where Ripley left it. Keep up the excellent work!

[@tims9434]

I think you've got yout wires crossed a bit

[@Rod_I._Rigo]

@tims9434 No...I'm not the Bishop android.

[@FrankSerio]

I like the conception of the Offspring that we got in the release. I don't think having it turn into something largely like the standard xenomorph design would have added anything to the narrative. Although the lumpy and asymmetric appearance did make it seem like a intermediate/pupal stage. I would not mind coming back later and seeing something like that happen, but I am satisfied with what we got for this film.

[@BaneShake]

If they had left it white and fleshy, but kept it looking more Xenomorph as it went, it could have been a visual callback to the prototype white Xenomorph they created for the original movie. Whether that would be an improvement would definitely be YMMV, but I would have at least been interested to see that.

[@almondgaming85]

The Offspring is terrifying. I remember being sat in the cinema and hearing a very sharp, very audible in take of breath from almost everyone in there watching the movie, what strikes me with metamorphosis idea is the similarities to William Gibson's unproduced screen play. Specifically the idea of the Xeno growing and bursting through the host's body in real time, I personally think that would've been a fantastic piece of body horror to see on the screen and it would've invoked the same sense of shock that you get the first time you watched Alien and seen what happened to Kane. There are so many similarities between the two screen plays it does make me wonder if Fede has read the unproduced screenplay and that gave him the ideas brought forward in Romulus, now that in its self isn't a bad thing at all, but it also makes me wonder what will we see in the follow up to Romulus? Will it be something akin to Out of the shadows or more along the lines of Sea of sorrows? or will it be a different type of beast all together? Anyway I've rambled on to much now as always another awesome and thought provoking video! Stay Frosty 🙂

[@CountryboyAR]

So the Deacon creature at the end of Prometheus has been officially axed and is to be never mentioned or explored again on screen? Prometheus still left a huge cliffhanger in the series even though it was mentioned more in a comic book. That it mutated into something giant that resembled a large mountain on LV 223 when it was explored 200 years later by a search party looking for missing Prometheus ship.

[@AbdiYohan]

God this thing freaked me the heck out... Ya gotta love an Alien movie that can still creep you out.

[@codymcdaniel5090]

I'm glad it didn't just evolve into a larger but basically standard xenomorph. I wouldn't be surprised if there was more changes and growth but just reverting to something we've seen before would of felt lack luster.

[@iain.collins]

This is super interesting, I had no idea about that alternative ending. I think Alex Garland and Ridley Scott were wrong about not embracing the proposed life cycle ending with the alien bursting from the Newborn, especially with the Offspring had already been explored in Alien Resurrection. I think this was a missed opportunity to do something that was both new on screen and closed a loop, by portraying an idea that William Gibson had originally explored, and that is used somewhat in books and that there is even a nod to in the screen with the rat within the movie. I wonder if Ridley Scott didn't like it in part out of hubris because it could have undermined what he was trying to with Covenant, even though that didn't seem to do so well with audiences.

[@macksquerade1689]

Offspring turning into xenomorph would’ve been redundant in a way… but would’ve been better than offspring. Top tier situation is: there is no offspring. It’s a goofy creation. Idk what he was thinking. They’re using black goo to make so many different xenomorphs… but we had many different types before it. Idk where the franchise is headed. Hopefully we don’t follow Rain… but thanks to Romulus I can at least watch the series burn down while eating from a cool popcorn bucket. I’ve been reading the books! Next up is Alien Harvest. Any favorites from the series?

[@Trustyfilms]

When I noticed the tail growing on second or maybe even third viewing, I thought it was a really cool detail and that it would have been great to see it subtly evolve into a more Xenomorph like crossbreed. All the signs were there between the hole in the back of its head and the dorsal tube holes. At least they kept the tail... Damn you, Ridley! That's the second thing I've heard that he "suggested" which in my opinion was a change for the worse.

[@purplecornstudios]

I understand the desire, from both the audience as well as the filmmakers, to have something new and exiting in new entries. And I'm definitely in the pro-Offspring camp. What I don't understand however is why, if they're taking inspiration from the novels, why not also take inspiration from some of the creatures in them. Infiltrator speaks of some really cool xenos we've never seen on screen. And Marsalis, who may well be the reason Rook is there in the first place, could be wicked on screen if done right. But even just a Pretorian or two could make for some truly riveting mayhem on screen. Missed opportunities.

[@rickjames5998]

bruh, I cant believe they got Mark Zuckerburg to cameo

[@ZeroArmour]

The Xeno tearing itself out of a human form reminds me of Gibson's Alien 3. And I did like that a lot.

[@Solidus_86]

Really takes some of the Gibson et al script for Alien 3 where the pathogen basically shows up and turns everyone into xenomorphs and they literally tear out of their own skin.

[@lsixty30]

I am 48 seconds in and already getting refreshers on lore, no time wasted

[@lsixty30]

6:22 this looks very cool, I wish we got something like this

[@acecashman1237]

I prefer what we got. Keep it as this Engineer/Xenomorph hybrid looking monstrosity instead of having it become just another typical Xenomorph that we've already seen multiple times over throughout the film.

[@STS-qi1qy]

The Offspring just turning into another base xenomorph really feels like it would fall flat. I'm sure there's a way to write that which works but if you're making a new creature and hybrid make it actually new, like they ended on, instead of just a stepping stone *back* to what we already knew.

[@floridamankyle5461]

Alien Theory videos comin!! LET'S GO!! Hey for those who are Alien RPG Game Mothers, Free League is starting a Kickstarter for an Evolved RPG for Alien, including what is new lore from Romulus!! Coming in April

[@Garviel.Loken.Knight.Errant.]

Thanks for the Intel. I have the original ALIENS rpg (90s) and the latest iteration too. Will be checking into the new one when it launches on KS. 👍

[@Wraithverge00]

Would've loved to see it evolve, since I'm assuming that the offspring was still a juvenile in my opinion

[@jackrogers5712]

The Offspring was great and I'm glad it didn't just turn into another xenomorph at the end. We saw xenomorphs the entire movie, something different was needed for the climax. That creature was super disturbing, that sadistic smile and inhuman proportions were as disturbing to me as the emergency alien removal scene in Prometheus. Romulus wasn't perfect, but it was a worthy addition to the Alien mythology, and a damn sight better than both Alien 3 and Resurrection.

[@ossidiana]

I like the idea of the offspring be it's own thing, at the same time having some resemblance with the xeno and engineers. I thought after re-watching prometheus, that engineers had initially used the black goo (or created it) in order to "perfect" themselves for hyperspace travel and colonization. Like in this movie the WY is trying to do with humans. So what the android in Alien Romulus said kinda make sense. The engineers "pilots/soldiers" we see in the prometheus have a resemblance with the offspring, they seem a "genetically engineered version" of the engineers we briefly met in Covenant. Maybe the offspring as a "superhuman" shares some characteristic with the "genetically engineered engineers" because both of them are the results of the black goo mods on any anthropomorphic species. Which can results eventually in variations of the xenomorph species. What I get from this, is that Engineers are far more advanced than humans, they used the black goo and it's effects and benefits for a bit, for conquering space and mold other life forms to their own benefit. Eventually, they ended up messing up with it, during their experiments. Like the WY (on a far greater cosmic scale) they lost control of the black goo getting the galaxy infested with xenomorph...maybe they initially used them as a form of defense against other civilization that they deemed aggressive or dangerous. Like other "space advanced" species that may hinder their supremacy? From what prometheus and covenant suggest, this movie fills the void between these plots and the original alien saga.

[@buggyboy2849]

Personally I would have preferred the Offspring morphing into a proper Xenomorph a lot more for the simple reason that it would verify that the Aliens are parasitic down to their DNA, an organism so aggressively viral and endlessly adaptable that even a drop of its "seed" is enough to recreate it inside any other life. As others have pointed it out already William Gibson's Alien 3 played with this very idea but the potential is enormous. The irony of humankind's survival and progress depending on an eldritch parasitic horror's uncontrollable DNA would have been amazing to explore further, the struggle of trying to suppress the Alien part of the treatment and (naturally) always failing and ending up recreating the Xenomorph throughout human colonies across the galaxy. We would be indirectly responsible for spreading the Alien across the stars. Imagine a movie where anyone every single person on a planet can morph into the Xenomorph at any given time without warning... As I said a LOT of potential there.

[@GeniusDevil7]

I think it's interesting to see the concept of xenomorphs being infectors. What with the deleted scenes and Gibson's treatment of Alien 3. It shows the pathogen still being a viable threat. Look at Fireteam Elite as an example. Speaking of which, Alien Theory, waiting on a video about that expansion

[@johncannon3411]

Romulus delivered the final nail in the coffin to the xenomorph, lets just give it a good send off and remember the memories

[@riancreamer6904]

I'm beginning to think that the Engineers used the Xeno to help them evolve - much like what Rook wanted for humanity. This would explain their reverence to the creature. It also suggests the Xeno was a species they found, rather than created. It would also seem that they realised the black goo had a myriad of applications but wasn't safe to mess about with. Hence the bio station we see in Prometheus. If this is somewhat close to the creative vision, I think they will have tied it up quite nicely.

[@aaronmaxwell7475]

I think the idea that creeped me out most with the offspring is that it is becoming more human, but retains the horrible nature of the xenomorph and that one day we may not be able to tell one from the other until it is to late, a bit like the thing, you don’t know who the alien is.

[@Midget881]

Became fully grown far to quickly like how the chest buster burst out 1 minute after the face hugger. Romulus could have been a lot better than it was

[@MitchellRoberts-dk2mb]

For me there was just too much going on it seemed like a conglomeration of all the alien movies put into one. I felt like I was watching the largest Syfy trailer ever produced.

[@Jcarroz]

Like the idea that the new born was continuing to evolve. But don’t think it should have been a Xeno, rather a new mix of human and creature. Would love to see a fully adult version of this in the next movie.

[@lance9800]

I'm so glad it didn't turn into yet another xenomorph. I'm ready for new stuff

[@christianyaerger1751]

It's my opinion that humanity could survive and colonize the stars. What Weyland-Yutani wanted, however, was a better WORKER. Their human workers were forced into hostile, cramped working conditions conducive to outbreak and scarcity. In the end, the experiment was just for the bottom line.

[@crabbuckets7506]

By the sounds of it, I would prefer the final ending. Having different creatures form depending on the host seems more intriguing.

[@kakkrotto]

Sounds like a slow version of the body bursted from alternate Alien 3 (William Gibson one?) I think it’s something that they should explore in movie, but I’m not sure that this would have been the right time or place. It’s cool as hell, but Romulus felt right as it was and I think did the right thing by not adding it.

[@dockickman7104]

Bro that poor chick got like 9 concussions, stabbed, grabbed, gave birth, then was killed by her impromptu child. Kay went through it lmao

[@patrickswayze3086]

Having it morph fully into the xenonorph would have been much better. These changes seem to happen too quickly for me though, perhaps starting a film with the offspring and having it slowly change over a whole movie could be a good concept for a sequel though

[@calebmcclure4556]

Honestly this probably would have been more well received than what we got. Xenomorphs are already intelligent but this metamorphosis held a scary notion of what could happen if it retained human like intelligence, and possibly emotions, but in the classic Xeno form. Obviously we don’t know how intelligent, but my theory is this would open up many new terrifying possibilities. Imagine facing one of these things that not only matches human intelligence but possibly surpassing us. Even more scary would be a hyper intelligent xeno with a penchant for human level hatefulness, vindictiveness and destruction. I would compare it to something along the lines of Nemesis from Resident Evil 3.

[@jm8a819]

What we got at the end was for the best, if anything if making it mutate was a must it should be into something else not a xenomorph.

[@NoxiD-20]

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, including the "offspring." The scene where you first see it crawling through the doorway legitimately game an uneasy feeling I haven't gotten from a movie since I was a kid, something like an uncanny valley feeling. The xeno transformation probably would have gone over better with the "hardcore" alien fanbase more so than just the offspring we got, but me personally, had no problem with the offspring.

[@speedrider3145]

it is cool that it was like a mix of all 3 makes it feel more disturbing XD

[@usosaito.namahage]

I thought it was always implicit that it was still evolving into something else all together. You could still see some changes that would seemingly because visible across the skin almost like something underneath was stretching out inside the humanoid skin suit.