Aliens at 40: The Tale Behind One of the Greatest Hardcore Sci-Fi Action Films Ever Created

      As it marks its 40th anniversary, Hasitha Fernando delves into the history behind Aliens…

      Following Ridley Scott's classic sci-fi horror Alien, James Cameron's sequel Aliens is often regarded as one of the finest sequels in film history. The movie is frequently compared to Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Godfather Part II as a sequel that not only met but exceeded the quality of its predecessor. As this iconic sci-fi action film reaches its 40th anniversary, we examine its tumultuous production journey and the drama that unfolded behind the scenes.

      20th Century Fox considered the success of Alien to be a coincidence

      When Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror Alien debuted in 1979, it was somewhat of a mixed success, despite its box office performance prompting immediate talks of a sequel. However, Brandywine Productions, the studio behind the film, struggled to persuade 20th Century Fox to fund a sequel since the studio claimed Alien lost $2 million in the eleven months after its release. The change in leadership at 20th Century Fox didn't ease the situation either, as the new studio president Norman Levy deemed a sequel a “disaster,” believing Alien’s box office success was merely a fluke.

      The sequel's development faced additional challenges after Brandywine Productions’ co-founders sued Fox for unpaid profits from Alien. By early 1983, the lawsuit was resolved with Fox agreeing to finance a sequel, though they were not obligated to distribute it. Around this time, Joe Wizan took over as Fox's new studio head and was open to the idea of developing a sequel. Consequently, Brandywine Productions’ development executive Larry Wilson began actively searching for a screenwriter in mid-1983.

      James Cameron was brought on board due to the success of his script for The Terminator

      While looking for a screenwriter, Wilson stumbled upon a script by James Cameron for a sci-fi film in development called The Terminator. Impressed with the material and Cameron’s previous successful collaboration with Sly Stallone on Rambo: First Blood Part II, Wilson decided to present The Terminator script to the executives at Brandywine Productions. Following their reading, Brandywine quickly commissioned Cameron to create a film treatment for Alien II, based on the concept of “Ripley and soldiers.” The 42-page treatment Cameron produced by November 1983 was initially not well-received by the studio, resulting in discussions about potentially selling the rights to Rambo co-creators Mario Kassar and Andrew G. Vajna, but they also turned down the offer.

      In July 1984, though, the project experienced a positive shift with Lawrence Gordon replacing Joe Wizan as Fox's new studio head. Gordon expedited the film's development but waited for Cameron to finish The Terminator. Unfortunately, the production of The Terminator was delayed by over nine months due to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s commitment to Conan the Destroyer. This delay granted Cameron enough time to refine his 42-page treatment into a more polished ninety-page version, which was better received by Gordon and the studio. However, Cameron expressed interest in directing the project. Given that his only prior directorial experience was with the low-budget indie horror film Piranha II: The Spawning, Fox was hesitant to accommodate this request. Nonetheless, the major critical and commercial success of The Terminator in late 1984 prompted the studio to reconsider, ultimately leading to Cameron being hired to direct Aliens.

      Sigourney Weaver offered input to enhance Ellen Ripley’s character

      In Cameron’s narrative and screenplay for the sequel, Ellen Ripley had a crucial role in driving the story. Therefore, Cameron was surprised to discover that Sigourney Weaver had neither signed on nor been contacted by the studio to reprise her iconic role. Due to Weaver's new salary demands, the studio had refrained from reaching out, but Cameron firmly believed the sequel could only proceed with Weaver in the leading role as originally intended. Ultimately, it was necessary for Arnold Schwarzenegger to intervene, and through his agent, they successfully reached Weaver and persuaded her to join the project. Weaver received a significant salary increase, earning $1 million and a portion of the box office profits to portray Ripley in the sequel. As a proponent of gun control in the U.S., Weaver felt uneasy about the gun violence depicted in the storyline. Cameron respected her viewpoint and incorporated that aspect into Ripley’s character, providing a compelling contrast to the trigger-happy Colonial Marines.

      Michael Biehn was not the initial choice for Corporal Dwayne Hicks

      Alongside the determined Ellen Ripley is the tough Corporal Hicks of the Colonial Marines. Biehn, who had worked with Cameron on The Terminator, enjoyed their collaboration and campaigned vigorously for the role of Hicks. Unfortunately, Cameron had already cast James Remar, known for his role in The Warriors, at that time. Feeling slightly disheartened by this news, B