12 Facts About the Alien Franchise That Might Surprise the Average Person

      In celebration of FX’s Alien: Earth, here are 12 facts about the Alien franchise that the average person might not be aware of.

      Xenomorphs have been instilling fear in audiences for almost fifty years since Ridley Scott’s 1979 film Alien, featuring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, a crew member of the Nostromo who confronts a terrifying creature.

      Spanning nine movies, including sequels, prequels, and spinoffs, as well as Hulu’s Alien: Earth, the Alien franchise continues to provoke both dread and fascination. Fans of Alien are extremely dedicated, thoroughly familiar with the decaying yet advanced universe.

      However, for those who are not diehard fans of Alien, here are 12 intriguing details that may not be on your radar.

      David Was Inspired by Rachel from Blade Runner

      Credit: Warner Bros

      David (Michael Fassbender) is the android lead in Ridley Scott’s recent Alien prequels, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.

      His portrayal was influenced by a character from one of Scott’s other films, 1982’s Blade Runner. He mentioned to Slashfilm in 2012 that he drew inspiration from the replicant Rachel, portrayed by Sean Young.

      “There was something about her character that resonated with me for David,” Fassbender commented. “This desire for something or a hint of a soul, along with a certain emptiness.”

      Another Surprising Connection Between Alien and Blade Runner

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      Alien and Blade Runner could exist within the same universe.

      In a bonus feature for Alien, the dossier for the USCSS Nostromo includes credentials for Dallas (Tom Skerritt), featuring the Tyrell Corporation – the entity responsible for the replicants in Blade Runner.

      Scott has consistently mentioned the visual links between the films. This bonus feature further deepens that connection, whether it is considered canon or not.

      Artist Francis Bacon Influenced the Xenomorph Design

      A partial image of Francis Bacon’s 1933 Crucifixion.

      Dublin-born artist Francis Bacon was a pioneer in body horror. Scott and the Xenomorph designer, H.R. Giger, drew inspiration from his haunting yet beautiful artwork.

      Many notice a likeness between the elongated and eerie figure in Bacon’s 1933 painting Crucifixion and Giger’s renowned alien design.

      “We decided we should make the creature blind and give it a terrifying array of teeth – similar to the detail in Francis Bacon’s Crucifixion triptych,” Giger expressed in his obituary in The Guardian. “It was Bacon's work that inspired me to envision this creature bursting from a person’s flesh, mouth agape, filled with teeth… it’s pure Bacon.”

      The Eggs Contained Seafood and Meat Inside

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      In the original movie, the eggs that create the facehuggers consisted of a mix of cow organs, clams, and oysters.

      “In those days, prosthetics were not very advanced,” Scott explained to The Guardian. “I believed the best option was to source materials from a butcher and a fishmonger. You can’t replicate that level of realism. It’s organic.”

      When the facehugger moves inside the egg, it’s actually Scott’s gloved hand animating the scene.

      We are showcasing the appealing image of Sigourney Weaver as Ripley above because the sight of the eggs might not pass the algorithms of some syndication partners, which aim to filter out images reminiscent of a butcher shop or fish market.

      Composer Jerry Goldsmith Was Not Fond of Alien

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      Jerry Goldsmith’s haunting score masterfully creates a sense of fear. Ridley Scott’s use of silence, paired with Goldsmith’s romantic take on horror, produces an auditory experience as distinctive as the groundbreaking visuals.

      However, Goldsmith once mentioned to the Los Angeles Reader that Alien was “one of the most miserable experiences I’ve ever had in this profession.”

      He was dissatisfied with how his score was edited and rearranged for the final version of the film. It was a continual struggle for Goldsmith, particularly regarding the cancellation of his end credits theme.

      James Cameron Didn’t Always See Eye to Eye with Some Aliens Crew Members

      Credit: 20th Century Fox

      The behind-the-scenes features of 1986’s sequel, Aliens, provide a candid glimpse for fans.

      Creative tensions and personality clashes are openly discussed in director Charles de Lauzirika’s documentary Superior Firepower: The Making of Aliens.

      This detailed documentary reveals James Cameron facing off against the English crew at Pinewood Studios.

      As work progresses, tea time comes around. Responsibilities are abandoned, leaving Cameron frustrated and questioning the absence of the Ridley Scott-loyal crew. It’s just one of many conflicts encountered during the production of Aliens.

      Over a Dozen Artists Were Required to Operate the Queen

      Actor Lance Henriksen, on the left, with Stan Winston on