“Film Problem-Solving At Its Yummiest State”: Alien: Romulus Chestburster Scene Was Far More Practical Than You Think, Star Explains How They Did It & The Surprising Response To Their Death

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“Film Problem-Solving At Its Yummiest State”: Alien: Romulus Chestburster Scene Was Far More Practical Than You Think, Star Explains How They Did It & The Surprising Response To Their Death


Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Alien: Romulus!Alien: Romulus star Aileen Wu has revealed behind-the-scenes details about the practical effects used in her iconic chestburster scene and the audience’s reaction to her death. Directed by Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe, Evil Dead), the Alien prequel, set between Ridley Scott’s original and James Cameron’s sequel, follows a new crew of colonists who encounter the Xenomorphs aboard the spacecraft, the Renaissance. With a diverse cast, including Isabela Merced and Archie Renaux, the characters of Alien: Romulus encounter a terrifying journey through space.

During an interview with Screen Rant to celebrate the movie’s home media release, Wu discussed the practical effects of the chestburster scene and the audience’s surprised reaction to her character’s fate. Wu’s character, Navarro, quickly became a standout in early promotional materials, due in large part to her character’s early demise, despite her better efforts to ensure her performance didn’t give that away:

So, I knew what happens to Navarro before I got the part, so when I got to that part in the script, I was like, “Oh, s–t, okay, if I get this, I have to really make it count”. Because I think the script was about 120, 110 pages, and her demise arrives around, like, page 56. I was like, “Okay, the first 50 pages I have to really make it count if I get this. I want people to watch it and have no idea that she’s the first one to go. I want to give last girl energy throughout the first act, so that when she dies, it really hits the audience, and they’re like, ‘No, we don’t want her to go.'” My worst fear was that I was going to step on screen, and something would give away to the audience, because, you know, it’s an Alien film. Everyone dies in an Alien film. So I was like, “If I’m watching this Alien film, I would probably start pooling money, get a group of friends going. ‘Who’s gonna die first? Let’s get a bet going.'” That scenario is in my head, and I was like, “If everyone chooses Navarro, bets on Navarro, as the first one to go, I failed.” [Laughs] That’s very intense, but you know what I mean?

Nonetheless, Alien: Romulus‘ promotion materials did little to aid in Wu’s quest to hide her death, as the poster depicts a facehugger attacking Wu’s head over a blood-red background, with various teasers and trailers pointing to this scene as well. Despite the marketing, Wu insisted audiences were still very surprised by her character’s futile ending:

A lot of people didn’t know that! [They didn’t know that] that head — because it was just my head, you know? I think a lot of people didn’t realize that the head that the facehugger is on one of the characters in the film, unless you’re like, a really hardcore fan, and you’re watching and rewatching over and over again, the teaser and the trailer, then you might have caught like, “Okay, the bald-headed chick with the facehugger is the poster and everything.” But I loved it. It was such a thrill to see the back of my head everywhere.

To depict the terrifying look of the Xenomorphs in Alien: Romulus, Álvarez incorporated the use of practical effects, as opposed to CGI. For Wu’s chestburster scene, in particular, the star recalls there being everyone from puppetteers to prosthetic makeup and regular makeup artists on set, while also being situated in a hole in the floor to shoot part of the scene involving a heavy prosthetic piece attached to her entire chest. Check out the rest of what Wu shared below:

So I had to go in, there were three different pieces. We shot that sequence in three days, and every day, I had a different prosthetic piece on. I would say, I wasn’t in the editing room, and I’m sure some touch-ups were digital when it comes to visual effects, but in filming it, all of it was practical. We shot it in the Corbelan. The Corbelan sits by itself on a really high rig, so that it could move. We all had to climb up there in the cockpit. There was me, Izzy [Merced], a prosthetic makeup artist on standby, an actual makeup artist on standby, two puppeteers and the cam op, who was Galo [Olivares]. They sawed out a hole in the ground of the Corbelan, I slipped my body into there. They gave me a bicycle seat, so that I could kind of sit and rest.

And then, the big moment of it bursting out of my chest, the prosthetic piece was really big and heavy. Basically, it was my entire chest, and I was wearing it like a front backpack, and it connected at my collarbone. They would stuff foam pieces in between my body and the piece, so that I would be kind of propped up, and it was really heavy because there was a button they could press, and then the chest part would literally pop out, like those Halloween decorations where the thing just pops up.

It was kind of like that, and my chest was like a door. It was really fun, and getting to do that over and over again and see how everybody adapted, each department had such a push-and-pull, and give-and-take of like, “Okay, you have to put more lube in the casking, so that when I really try to push the little creature out, he comes out smoother, and then we can get the sequence going.”

And a lot of it was about timing, too, because we did a lot of long takes of the whole thing happening, beginning to end. It was one of my favorite days on set. I really looked forward to shooting that sequence.

What Aileen Wu’s Chestburster Scene Means For Alien: Romulus

An Example Of Practical Innovation In Modern Sci-Fi

Wu’s detailed breakdown of her chestburster sequence highlights how Alien: Romulus remains true to the franchise’s commitment to practical effects. Wu mentioned that the scene involved with the chestburster took three days of filming, during which she worked with various prosthetic pieces and creative departments. The horrific look of the prequel’s new Xenomorphs was born from a careful choreography between actors, makeup artists, puppeteers, and cinematographer Galo Olivares.

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This dedication to practical effects not only ensured authenticity but also allowed Wu to fully immerse herself in the role, enhancing the emotional weight of her character’s demise. Her goal of delivering energy as a final girl before Navarro’s early death allowed the short-lived character to properly win over audiences. While Wu may not be the movie’s protagonist, her performance ensured Navarro’s story will leave a lasting impression.

Our Take On The Practical Effects In Alien: Romulus

The Prequel’s Gore Captures The Spirit of Ridley Scott’s Original

Kay (Isabela Merced) screaming with blood in her face in Alien: Romulus
Image via 20th Century Studios

The use of practical effects in Alien: Romulus reinforces the series’ legacy of delivering visceral yet realistic horror. From the original chestburster in Ridley Scott’s Alien to the groundbreaking visuals of Romulus, the franchise has consistently used practical effects for the film’s most gripping and unforgettable moments. Wu’s chestburster scene is a testament to how techniques will continue to evolve, bringing both authenticity and creativity to a classic story with a modern take.

Director Álvarez’s prequel affirms that the franchise will continue to excel in innovation and quality thrills. The commitment to grounded, tactile filmmaking, paired with a fresh narrative and cast, sets the stage for a great addition to the Alien universe. Alien: Romulus is a worthy successor that both honors its roots and forges new territory.



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