Alien: Romulus director Fede Alvarez explains how Ellen Ripley’s hidden return in the sequel impacts franchise canon. Hitting theaters last summer, the seventh installment in the Alien franchise, which takes place between the first two movies, follows a young crew as they encounter a Xenomorph while exploring a derelict space station. Ripley actor Sigourney Weaver doesn’t make an actual appearance as part of the Alien: Romulus cast, but her escape pod, the Narcissus, can be seen twice in the film in the background of different shots.