A common thread throughout every “Alien” installment is the inclusion of android characters, often called “synthetics.” In the original film, Ash (Ian Holm) was secretly an android, willing to sacrifice the lives of the Nostromo crew to preserve the xenomorph for Weiland-Yutani. In “Aliens,” Lance Henriksen plays Bishop, another synthetic who turns out to be more admirable than his predecessor. Of course, there’s also Michael Fassbender’s David from “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” who’s more like Ash than Bishop.
But “Alien: Romulus” is taking an entirely new approach with its synthetic, David Jonsson’s Andy, who has a more personal connection to the leading lady, Rain Carradine. “In this one, Rain’s brother is a synthetic,” star Cailee Spaeny told Entertainment Weekly. “She loves him like her brother, but there are difficulties growing up with a synthetic, and some of the challenges that she faces during the film are related.”
Given the film’s “Romulus” subtitle, we should expect that these two will undergo some truly dramatic personal challenges, which may even result in the death of one or the other. Still, what makes the movie’s take on the synthetic concept unique is the familial bond seemingly forged between Rain and Andy, something that will be exciting to explore come August.
