Word has it that various Cinemark outlets selling the much anticipated ALIEN Romulus popcorn bucket, a replica of the Alien head, has already sold out in many cinemas. Quite an accomplishment considering the movie won’t be released until August 15. A solid two weeks remain until release date and these curious items have disappeared from theaters fast and already started to reappear on eBay for significantly more than original retail price. The original retail price being around US$30.
These highly anticipated items are limited and in very high demand. It’s no surprise that these sold out items are now appearing on eBay at tremendously inflated prices. Such is the fate of such collectibles. Get in quick or be prepared to be priced gouged in ways that should be declared criminal. After all, it’s just a plastic Alien head! …that you can use to stow popcorn in! The wild, woolly and weird component of the product has made it an instant bestseller – and it is now SOLD OUT! at least full two weeks prior to the movie’s release. If you want to be brave enough and purchase one on eBay, then here ya go.
-windebieste.
First up is the major Alien appearing in the movie, Scorched. Here’s NECA’s description of this figure, which is probably the largest accessory load-out of any NECA Alien figure to date, “NECA’s Ultimate action figure version of the Scorched Xenomorph stands over 9 inches tall with 23 points of articulation and features an opening jaw with an extending inner mouth and wired tail. The screen-accurate figure comes with interchangeable dome parts for a drone Xenomorph Warrior look, perfect for army building! Other accessories include interchangeable hands, facehugger and chestbursters with wired tails, and a display stand for dynamic posing. Comes in window box packaging.”
The second reveal features an accessory pack largely comprised of small alien forms and the cocooned Big Chap. Here’s NECA’s list of contents for this accessory pack, you’ll find the “Model F44AA Pulse Rifle toy accessory (fits 7” scale figures), Asteroid with fossilized Xenomorph XX121, Facehugger and Chestburster with wired tails for posing, Cryo frame case with Facehugger and interchangeable damaged plastic parts, Facehugger that can go around the heads of most NECA 7-inch scale action figures.” 
This item appears to be in the 7 inch scale and comparable in size to other figures in NECA’s exceptionally popular Reel Toys range. The original 1979 Ben Cooper ALIEN costume and mask set is now a rare and sort after collector’s item. It was also celebrated in miniature form some years back on 
Along with a fully articulated Romulus Alien figure NECA appears to be releasing a handful of other accessories. Of particular note is the confirmation of the long rumored presence of the original Alien creature in the movie, encased in a protective resin-like cocoon. We witness this mysterious object being recovered during one of the trailers and here, the contents are fully revealed. It is definitely, 100% Giger’s original designed creature we last saw being expelled by the Narcissus engines – and likely the source of all the creatures present aboard Romulus’ Renaissance station. I wonder if both halves of the cocoon will be included? Various small Alien forms such as a pair of facehuggers, a chestburster along with the new rifle we are already relatively familiar, also appear to be included as part of this line up. No mention of any human(oid) characters appear in TOYARK’s gallery or post; just
Here’s some info about this upcoming publication, “Marvel’s one-shot will take place prior to the events of the film, providing an illuminating backstory behind the film’s main threat. Made in close partnership with Director Fede Alvarez and frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues, both of whom wrote Alien: Romulus, the comic is a must-have companion to one of the most highly anticipated films of the summer.” Not a big fan of comics myself these days but this item can certainly be treated as a prologue of sorts to ALIEN Romulus due to the director and writer of the movie being involved in its production. You can pre-order the upcoming ALIEN: Romulus comic at your local comic shop today and it will be available on store shelves on October 16, 2024.
I reviewed ALIEN Covenant upon release back in 2017 and it’s already been added to the Movie Reviews section. This means at least some content is present and it’s not going to be a blank slate until mid August when ALIEN Romulus is released. Nonetheless, the review for the hotly anticipated new movie is coming. I’ll post News of the review when it’s ready. That will happen sometime around mid August. I’m looking forward to this movie. I’ll be here to provide my opinion of it then.
Here’s some comments posted by Matt in regards to the construction of this item, “To create Newt, I took a Mego 3 3/4” Uncle Jesse figure from the Dukes of Hazzard line. The smaller size and somewhat rounder physique actually works perfectly for the character. In the interest of keeping things simple, I opted to use an Ellie Sattler head from the Jurassic Park line. A hollowed-out Cpl. Hicks head makes for a perfect helmet.Newt now can fight Xenomorphs side by side with Ripley!” Fascinating and wonderful.
The bucket clearly resembles an Alien head. Curiously, it is not based on the designs we have seen to date appearing in ALIEN Romulus. The bucket design appears to be lifted directly from the creatures seen in ALIEN Covenant. A great design in its own right – just seven years too late. Nonetheless, this looks like a wild item for a popcorn bucket. Once contents are consumed, it could be used to stow any number of things inside. Wads of cash, your stash of weed, your old socks; or maybe, y’know? Just leave it on display in your collection. This isn’t the only Alien themed popcorn bucket we’ll see become available upon release of ALIEN Romulus. Another bucket featuring a facehugger attached to the outside is also known to become available. Release information, prices and availability are unknown at this stage for either of these items.
There’s a lot to unpack here but the original Giger design is demonstrably present and features the iconic elongated head, with the skull visible beneath the carapace. The original Giger designed six fingered hands, clavicles and thigh details are also weighty in this design. The heels and lengthened feet with raised ankles demonstrates ALIEN Isolation is also being represented here with digitigrade legs and elongated tail spike. Of peculiar interest are the raised claw spurs appearing on the toes of the creature. This detail is evocative of one of Giger’s early abandoned concept designs of similarly clawed feet for the creature that appears in ALIEN 3.
The box art on the wraparound window packaging for these four items is absolutely snappy, featuring a classic green low-fi pixelated font used for the character names. Australian fans and enthusiasts 
Here is more info by the supplier, “In space, no one can hear you scream – but they can see your awesome, limited-edition ALIEN: ROMULUS Collector’s Glass. This Alamo-exclusive ticket add-on features custom art by Mutant artist Ken Taylor and is the best way to add a Xenomorph to your collection without the risk of it melting your couch with acid blood. These are only available while supplies last, so preorder yours with your tickets if you don’t want your chest to burst with FOMO.”
There’s a few interesting details of note here, especially in regard to both Alien characters. The six fingered hands and four toed feet of the original ALIEN creature have made a return. Not withstanding Funko’s stylised presentation of their figures, these shared morphological features reflect an as yet undisclosed origin of these creatures and their relationship with the original creature as it appeared in 1979’s ALIEN. A scarred carapace along with a few other subtle differences such as pronated hands along with an alternate stance suggest these two pieces are intended to be two different creatures we can expect to appear in the movie and not just a pair of variants of the same Alien character. We’ve seen similarly defined scarred Aliens before. Most notable, appearing in the 2004 ALIEN vs PREDATOR movie where Grid became a recognisable ‘hero’ character with distinct net shaped scars burned across his head and shoulders to differentiate him from other creatures appearing in that movie. The scars serve the purpose of being One to stand out from the crowd, no less.
Such re-purposing of molds extends throughout the 1990s Kenner ALIENS line, and the blog documents these in more detail. These days, this practice is still very much a part of product development. Super7 is notorious for such mold re-cycling. They managed to squeeze 48 figures/characters/variants from 8 character molds for their ALIEN ReAction line. NECA have also released many figures featuring repurposed molds. Many of their ALIEN movie, video game and comic book adapted figures feature re-cast body parts to create a “new” figure, or at least give a previous release a new identity. Significantly, look at how many times NECA’s Kane compression suit figure has been re-colored with swapped heads to create unique Nostromo identities. More relevant here, NECA also made tribute figures of both of Kenner’s Gorilla and Mantis Aliens – and these 7 inch scale figures both share the same torso molds, which itself were also re-purposed from one of their earlier ALIEN action figures.
The figure is in a terrific state and it’s all there. An original dome rests on the head, all mouth parts are mounted in place and the all too often missing dorsal crest is also sitting confidently in place on its back. It’s a great figure. As for the box that is included in this listing? Well, that’s a different story altogether and it can barely be called a box. Crushed, crumpled and torn in major ways, all the box’ parts are present, it’s just in various pieces. The lid is torn off from the main case and the windows are a single separate piece. All of these pieces are included in the sale. The poster is also included and while it remains in a single sheet, it still shows signs of heavy wear. The red insert card that would normally be found inside the box to which the toy was originally attached is completely absent. At a starting price of US$9.99, you can easily spend a couple hundred dollars on just the figure alone and consider this box and poster as a “bonus situation”. It’s a piece of packaging worth having despite being in a ruined state but certainly isn’t the main attraction here. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how this auction finally pans out. The box is junk and still worth …something. It’s a nice extra item but the figure is where the real value lies.