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‘Alien: Romulus’s biggest cameo is its greatest error
Let’s talk about Alien resurrection. No, not the fourth “Alien” film, but rather the ghoulish real-life resurrection in “Alien: Romulus.”
Let’s talk about Alien resurrection. No, not the fourth film in the Alien series, but rather the ghoulish real-life resurrection at the heart of Alien: Romulus.
The film, directed by Fede Álvarez, brings a familiar face back to the Alien franchise: that of the late Sir Ian Holm. Holm played the Nostromo’s synthetic science officer Ash in 1979’s Alien. In Alien: Romulus, he “appears” as Rook, a Weyland-Yutani synthetic who is the same model as Ash, and who serves as the science officer for the Renaissance space station.
I say “appears” because Holm, who passed away in June 2020, is unable to perform in Alien: Romulus. Instead, the film uses an animatronic body and CGI to create a simulacrum of Holm. Actor Daniel Betts also provided facial and vocal performances, which were then altered by generative AI and computer modeling to get closer to Holm’s. The result lives in the depths of the uncanny valley, alongside Rogue One‘s revival of Peter Cushing’s Grand Moff Tarkin and The Flash‘s cameo from Christopher Reeve’s Superman.
However, Alien: Romulus‘s Rook has far more screen time than these prior examples, playing first an expository role, then an antagonistic one for the film’s young heroes. Each extended appearance is more unsettling than the last, to the point that I dreaded seeing Rook far more than I dreaded any Xenomorph. Not because Rook is a frightening character, but because his presence here snaps you out of an otherwise very fun movie, pointing instead to a disturbing filmmaking practice that mines cheap nostalgia from a late actor’s work — and that could have been entirely avoided in the first place.
Why is Ian Holm’s Alien: Romulus resurrection so troubling?
Let’s start out with the obvious: No matter what permissions an estate may grant, a late actor cannot consent to having their likeness used in a movie. Doing so is an immediate violation of their personhood. In reviving them for the screen, you’re creating a performance in a film they might never have agreed to do, with acting choices they might never have made.
That’s because the version of Holm we see in Alien: Romulus isn’t really Holm. It’s a puppet of a character he once played, being pulled out of the Alien toy box in order to score nostalgia points in a movie that’s already too full of callbacks. Like Reeve and Cushing, Holm becomes an avatar for misguided fan service, instead of remaining an actor with agency. No wonder concerns about digital replicas of actors and their use after death became a key part of SAG-AFTRA’s 2023 contract.
The presence of Holm’s likeness in Alien: Romulus is also a smack in the face to the film’s own themes. Here is a movie that criticizes how corporations work employees to death, with one of its first scenes establishing that Weyland-Yutani keeps moving the goalposts of Rain Carradine’s (Cailee Spaeny, Civil War, Priscilla) contract until it’s effectively a death sentence. Yet Alien: Romulus is awfully comfortable working the image of an actor’s body beyond death. Elsewhere, the great horror of the facehuggers and Xenomorphs remains the hijacking of our own bodies for alien needs. Does Alien: Romulus not see how its use of Holm’s likeness is a similar kind of hijacking?
Alien: Romulus didn’t need Rook in the first place.
Credit: 20th Century Studios
An extra frustrating element of this situation is the fact that Alien: Romulus didn’t even need Rook to be effective. Rain and her companions have no idea about the events of Alien on the Nostromo, or who Ash is, so seeing Rook means nothing to them in-world. His presence here is pure fan service, with no actual depth behind it. Sure, the sentiment would have been the same had Álvarez brought back Bishop (Lance Henriksen) from Aliens and Alien 3 or David (Michael Fassbender) from Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, but at least then the director wouldn’t have been manufacturing a performance from a deceased Holm.
Just bring in another version of Andy.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Álvarez pointed to a “limited amount of synthetics” as being the reason why he and producer Ridley Scott decided to bring Rook back. Yet even if that limit prevented the creation of another original synthetic beyond Andy (David Jonsson, Industry, Rye Lane), there is still a solution for who could fulfill Rook’s role onboard the Renaissance without stooping to fan service. Just bring in another version of Andy. After all, the movie is named Romulus, after famed Roman twins Remus and Romulus — twin shenanigans would only make sense here!
Yes, the Alien franchise has pulled the synthetic twins trick before, with Walter and David in Alien: Covenant. But out of all the callbacks Alien: Romulus has to other Alien films, I think double Andy has the potential to be the most rewarding.
For starters, another synthetic who looks like Andy would actually mean something to Rain and her companions. They’d have more of a reason to trust him upon first meeting him, just by virtue of his resemblance to Rain’s brother alone. That’s already a step above fan service.
Then, there’s Andy’s reaction to his own doppelgänger to consider. Aside from Rain, Andy is fairly isolated from the rest of the anti-synthetic crew, and from the rest of the Jackson’s Star Colony. What happens if he sees someone who is exactly like him? Does he form some kind of synthetic kinship with his double, especially after learning that Rain plans to decommission him when she makes it to Yvaga?
If there is any trust there, that adds an extra layer of heartbreak to the moment when Andy switches over to being just another vessel for doing Weyland-Yutani’s bidding, powered by Rook’s chip. Think of Andy’s turn there like a reverse Walter and David situation. While David tried to turn Walter against his crew in order to free him from a life of service, Andy’s turned against his crew in order to serve Weyland-Yutani. When it’s his lookalike facilitating that turn, it becomes more of a betrayal of self, instead of a possible self-liberation.
Twice the Andy is just one solution to the question of, “which synthetic should be onboard the Renaissance?” (A solution that would give Jonsson even more room to flex his impressive range.) There are countless others, including just making Rook an original synthetic and casting any other actor in the part. But there’s only one truly incorrect answer, and that’s the route Alien: Romulus takes.
Stephen Colbert breaks down the big DNC moments in live monologue
Stephen Colbert has broken down the big moments from the Democratic National Convention, day one.
Stephen Colbert has broken down the big moments from the Democratic National Convention, day one.
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 20
Connections is a New York Times word game that’s all about finding the “common threads between words.” How to solve the puzzle.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 20’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Whooooosh
Green: One might spin right round baby right round…
Blue: What’s your star sign?
Purple: Book characters
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Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Rush of Wind
Green: Rotate
Blue: Zodiac Symbols
Purple: Dr. Seuss Title Characters
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #435 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
Rush of Wind: BLOW, DRAFT, GUST, PUFF
Rotate: CRANK, REEL, TURN, WIND
Yoga Poses: BULL, CRAB, LION, RAM
Zodiac Symbols: CAT, GRINCH, POP, TURTLE
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday’s Connections.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Wordle today: Here’s the answer hints for August 20
Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1158 on August 20, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 20’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Hold up.
Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
Not today.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter D.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
DELAY.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Disney reportedly scraps ‘The Acolyte’ after 1 season
Star Wars series “The Acolyte” won’t be back after that massive finale, according to reports.
Fans of The Acolyte are processing some terrible news this week, with reports of the show’s cancellation. As reported by Deadline, Lucasfilm will not continue the Star Wars series into a second season.
Created by Leslye Headland and starring Amandla Stenberg and Manny Jacinto, The Acolyte wrapped up a critically acclaimed, eight-episode first season at the end of July, leaving many narrative questions unanswered.
The Acolyte‘s renewal for a second season was not among the many, many announcements at Disney’s biennial D23 expo on Aug. 11, where the company revealed various sequels and spinoffs ahead. As IGN reports, Jacinto was asked on a D23 panel about the possibility of a second Acolyte season, when he said, “Fingers crossed we get to do it again.”
Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.
Launched in June, the first two episodes of The Acolyte received 4.8 million views on Disney+ — making it the streaming service’s top series premiere of 2024, according to Disney. After five days, this hit 11.1 million views, and The Acolyte made it to Nielsen’s top 10 chart for original series. Deadline reports the show lost momentum after its premiere (like many new shows) but appeared in Nielsen’s top originals at number 10 for its showstopping finale. The Acolyte‘s budget was reportedly $180 million for eight episodes.
Theories and reactions are simmering on social media following the news, and Disney is yet to publicly confirm the show’s cancellation. But it’s looking like the future for The Acolyte is grim.
NYT’s The Mini crossword answers for August 20
Answers to each clue for the August 20, 2024 edition of NYT’s The Mini crossword puzzle.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times‘ revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player’s flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Tuesday, August 20, 2024:
Across
“That’s gonna leave a ___!”
The answer is Mark.
Great Lake that borders Buffalo
The answer is Erie.
Bee offensive?
The answer is Sting.
Greek god of war
The answer is Ares.
Something you might hold around a dumpster
The answer is Nose.
Down
D.C.’s subway system
The answer is Metro.
Zodiac sign for Nancy Pelosi and Tim Walz
The answer is Aries.
Hold under running water
The answer is Rinse.
Big barrel of Bud
The answer is Keg.
___ Diego, Calif.
The answer is San.
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Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Stephen King is still posting about The Dark Tower. He just dropped his biggest hint yet.
Stephen King has posted another hint about The Dark Tower on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that he feels “called” back to the series.
Another day, another Stephen King hint about The Dark Tower.
Over the past week the horror author has been posting regularly about his eight-book series on X (formerly Twitter). King started by sharing fan art of main character Roland Deschain with a comment indicating the Gunslinger’s world is still there, and then followed that up over the weekend with a suggestion that the Crimson King — the series’ main antagonist — is still alive.
And now, he’s posted his biggest clue yet.
The thing is, while it’s been fun to see King talking about The Dark Tower again after so long, it hasn’t been clear what the purpose of it all is. Could it be related to Mike Flanagan’s TV adaptation? Or was King talking about another story?
Well, based on his latest post, it feels he’s hinting at the latter.
“I feel called,” wrote King in response to a fan asking what all of his posts mean.
Can’t really put it much plainer than that, can you? Sounds to us like King is revving up to write another instalment.
How to watch the 2024 Tour of Britain online for free
Live stream the 2024 Tour of Britain for free from anywhere in the world.
TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 Tour of Britain for free on ITVX. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The best cyclists in the world have got it good. Sure, they have an incredibly gruelling schedule. But they also get to travel the world doing what they love, which must be pretty great. Following on from the Tour de France, Paris Olympics, and Vuelta a España, the Tour of Britain is next in line for those talented enough to travel the world on two wheels.
If you want to watch the 2024 Tour of Britain for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Tour of Britain?
The Tour of Britain is a multi-stage cycling race conducted on British roads. The event dates back to the first British stage races held just after the Second World War. The current version of the Tour of Britain began in 2004, and it became part of the new UCI ProSeries in 2020.
Wout van Aert won the 2023 Tour of Britain.
When is the 2024 Tour of Britain?
The 2024 Tour of Britain is the 20th edition of the famous race. This year’s event takes place from Sep. 3 to Sep. 8.
How to watch the 2024 Tour of Britain for free
Fans can live stream the 2024 Tour of Britain for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, meaning you’ll be blocked if you attempt to stream on ITVX from anywhere else in the world. That is unless you’re using a VPN. With a VPN, you can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can bypass restrictions to access ITVX from anywhere in the world.
Unblock and stream on ITVX from anywhere in the world in just a few simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Stream the 2024 Tour of Britain from anywhere in the world
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ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free. However, leading VPNs do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By making the most of these offers, you can watch the 2024 Tour of Britain without actually spending anything. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the Tour of Britain before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?
ExpressVPN remains the top choice for unblocking streaming sites from around the world. ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Watch the 2024 Tour of Britain for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Should you sign up for Hulu? Our film critics weigh in.
Tiers and bundles as far as the eye can see. Let’s run down the pros and cons of a Hulu subscription.
With the streaming wars in full swing, it can be challenging to figure out which services to sign up for, or what benefits they offer. It feels like Hollywood studios come out with new platforms every week, whether Disney+, Paramount+, Apple TV+, or even MGM+. Based on the plus signs in their name, they all may love math, but they won’t exactly help you budget for your entertainment needs — which is where Mashable’s watch guides and streaming app reviews come in.
After all, what better way to figure out which services are worth it than by hearing from the people who use them on the regular? We’ve tested the waters so you don’t have to (though in many cases, you can sign up for a free trial if you choose). This time, we’re running down the pros, cons, and costs of one of the OGs of the streaming industry: Hulu.
The site is available in the U.S. and Japan, though we’ll be detailing the American version.
What is Hulu?
Credit: Hulu
Launched just a few months after Netflix, Hulu has been around since October 2007, when it began as a joint venture between several companies, including NBCUniversal and News Corporation, though it’s now wholly owned by Disney. The site started as a place to watch recently aired episodes of your favorite TV shows, a function it still retains, though the app has since branched out with its own originals, including Shōgun, The Bear, and The Handmaid’s Tale, and even a live TV component as an alternative to cable.
Hulu has a nifty topic bar on every page that allows you to navigate between its major categories. You can go to “Movies” and “TV” — each offers a combination of Hulu Originals as well shows and films from elsewhere, with further options to sort by genre or network. There’s also a “My Stuff” button that lets you quickly access all the programming you’ve added to your queue. These features ought to be familiar if you’ve used other streaming sites, but Hulu also has an option called “Hubs,” which sets it apart from its competitors.
Where the “Movies” and “TV” tabs will categorize content by genre, Hulu’s specialized “Hubs” are more granular, since they divide films and shows by more specific points of origin. Some Hubs are studio or production company-specific, in case you’re in the mood for a film distributed by Neon or a show produced by FX. Other Hubs, meanwhile, are divided by country or culture, with options like “Black Stories Always” for African American voices, or “Hulu Has Pride” for LGBTQ+ stories. There’s also the “Hotstar” hub, named for the Disney-owned Indian streaming service, which grants viewers access to a whole library of Indian movies and shows in various languages.
How much is Hulu without ads?
Credit: Hulu
A Hulu ad-supported plan will run you $7.99 a month (or $79.99 a year), unless you’re a student, in which case you may be eligible for Hulu (With Ads) for just $1.99 a month once you verify your college enrollment. Also, if you happen to be Hulu-shopping during the site’s annual Thanksgiving sale, you may be able to snag a year-long subscription for as low as $0.99 a month if you’re a new subscriber. In the meantime, the Hulu (With Ads) tier offers a free seven-day trial so you can get the hang of things, though you’ll need to input a payment method and remember to cancel before the trial period ends if you don’t want to be charged.
The ad-free Hulu (No Ads) tier is a little more expensive, at $17.99 a month, but it’s a smoother, interruption-free experience without ad breaks during the episodes. The only downside is that some shows will still play with a few unskippable ads before the video begins.
Can you bundle Hulu with other streaming services?
Credit: Hulu
If you like to keep your streaming options varied, there may still be a way to cut costs, either through bundling Hulu with other apps, or through the streamer’s add-on services. Since Hulu is owned by Disney, the studio offers a number of bundling options with two of its other major streaming sites, Disney+ and ESPN+, with the following combinations:
Disney Bundle Duo Basic: Hulu (With Ads) and Disney+ (With Ads) for $9.99 a month
Disney Bundle Duo Premium: Hulu (No Ads) and Disney+ (No Ads) for $19.99 a month — you would need to purchase this one through Disney+
Disney Bundle Trio Basic: Hulu (With Ads), Disney+ (With Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) for $14.99 a month
Disney Bundle Trio Premium: Hulu (No Ads), Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) for $24.99 a month
Hulu also recently added the option of bundling with Disney+ and the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Max for $16.99 a month, all of them with ads. However, if you’d rather sign up just for Hulu but still want to be able to customize your services later, you can not only switch between Hulu (With Ads) and Hulu (No Ads) in your account settings, but you can also add Disney+ and ESPN+ as Partner Add-ons, as well as Premium Add-ons like Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz.
How much is Hulu Live TV?
For prospective cable-cutters, Hulu has a Live TV Only option if you just want access to about 90 channels (depending on your zip code), though its $75.99 a month price point can’t compete with YouTube TV’s $72.99 or Sling’s various $40 to $55 tiers for live TV.
However, you can also bundle Hulu Live TV in a number of permutations with other services that might make it worth your while. If you want it with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all three with ads), then the monthly price is just a dollar more than the Live TV Only option, at $76.99.
That price tag goes up an additional $5 to $81.99 if you want your Disney+ without ads, and another $8 on top of that if you want to remove ads from the Hulu streaming service as well, meaning the most expensive tier — Hulu (No Ads) + Live TV with Disney+ (No Ads) and ESPN+ (With Ads) — will run you $89.99 monthly.
Regardless of which tier or bundle you choose, you’ll have unlimited DVR storage, and can also pay to add various sports and entertainment networks as you please, in both English and Spanish.
Can you download movies on Hulu?
Credit: Hulu
Like most major streaming services, Hulu is available across every major smartphone, smart TV, gaming console, and tablet, with the option to download movies and shows on most mobile devices. However, you can only download content with a Hulu (No Ads) plan or bundle.
You can also watch downloaded content offline, and while downloads on Hulu have certain time restrictions, they’re easy to renew. Each file will remain valid for 30 days, and you’ll have 48 hours to complete a film or episode once you start watching, but after that, you can download it again with no hassle.
Is Hulu worth it?
All in all, while you may have better luck elsewhere with your live TV options, our verdict is that Hulu is worth the price if you decide to bundle it with other streaming services or take advantage of its annual sale in November.
Apple Podcasts are now available on the web
Apple has launched Apple Podcasts on the web on all major browsers.
Apple Podcasts have arrived to your browser of choice.
On Monday, Apple launched Apple Podcasts on the web, making its Podcasts available as a web app on major browsers including Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. The service is available in more than 170 countries and regions, in their local language, the company has announced.
Podcasts were already available as a desktop app on the Mac, but now you can get a very similar experience on essentially any device or operating system. The web app starts in the familiar Home tab and offers access to top charts, and users can browse through podcasts and access their Library (provided they’ve signed into the app).
Apple Podcasts on the web are available at https://podcasts.apple.com/.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable/Apple
Apple has recently started offering more of its apps in the form of web versions. In July, the company launched Apple Maps on the web, though that version launched as “beta” and without many of the features that Apple Maps offers as a desktop app.