How Ian Holm’s Return in ‘Alien: Romulus’ Brings SAG-AFTRA’s Digital Replicas Work Into Focus
variety.comCarolyn Giardina The late Ian Holm — who played the role of android Ash, an antagonist in 1979’s “Alien” — has generated plenty of attention with his return in Disney and 20th Century’s “Alien: Romulus,” which over the weekend extended its box office tally to $91 million domestically and $283.5 million worldwide.
Holm’s appearance in the latest “Alien” installment underscores the role of the SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreement, which requires that the performer’s estate grant consent before a digital replica is created.
A recent Visual Effects Society panel explored the delicate work to bring Holm’s likeness to “Alien: Romulus,” which introduces the late actor as a new android named Rook.
Director Fede Alvarez confirmed that the filmmakers first contacted Holm’s estate for its OK (as Variety understands it, this involved compensation, per the SAG-AFTRA contract) before embarking on using Holm’s likeness.
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