How a Random Joke Sparked the Epic Alien vs Predator Franchise You Love

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Despite its initial appearance as a sensational idea, the Alien vs. Predator series has shown remarkable staying power within popular culture. Just as the prospect of clashes between iconic monsters like Godzilla and King Kong captivated audiences, so too has the thought of these two formidable 20th Century Fox alien killers – the Predator and the Xenomorph – battling each other held a strong allure for moviegoers over countless generations. Remarkably, this concept was so compelling that it led to two Alien vs. Predator films in the 2000s, which ultimately brought their stories together for an extended duration.

Discussion about resurrecting the Alien vs. Predator series in a fresh, thrilling manner has been ongoing among the public. It seems that this epic battle is as persistent as the two iconic aliens who lead this franchise. While it’s now considered with great respect by sci-fi enthusiasts, the Alien vs. Predator saga actually began humbly in 20th Century Fox movies. In fact, when the idea was first hinted at in “Predator 2”, it was merely a casual joke.

Alien vs. Predator’s Humble Origins

The idea behind Alien vs. Predator initially came from a series of comics published by Dark Horse between late 1989 and early 1990. Interestingly, these comic book stories concluded just as the filming for Predator 2 started. This movie offered a hint of the Alien and Predator sagas sharing the same universe through an Easter egg: a Xenomorph skull visible in a Predator’s trophy room. It seems this formidable hunter had added to his collection the creature that had long been tormenting Ellen Ripley.

It’s widely believed that the Easter egg in question was added more as a joke than anything else, with artists John Rosengrant and Shane Mahan from Stan Winston Studios being the ones responsible for the decision. Their team was working on creating various extraterrestrial alien skulls for the Predator trophy room, and inspired by their recent exposure to the Alien vs. Predator comics, they decided to incorporate a Xenomorph skull as a playful reference to these stories. Contrary to popular belief, this wasn’t a subtle hint at future sequels or a directive from a 20th Century Fox executive for a potential crossover.

Instead, Rosengrant and Mahan’s playful acknowledgment of their favorite comics sparked the creativity of moviegoers globally. This led to the Alien and Predator movies being officially part of live-action media, while the Dark Horse publications served as a visual guide for what an Alien vs. Predator battle might look like. For the following 14 years, artists diligently worked towards turning the Alien vs. Predator movie into a reality. Even after the crossover movies ceased in 2007 with Alien vs. Predator: Requiem, the fusion between these stories continued.

Alien and Predator Are Forever Intertwined

2010’s film “Predators” subtly referenced the Alien saga by sharing a similar title with the 1986 movie “Aliens.” More direct connections between the two films were made in 2018’s “The Predator,” which briefly showcased weapons from “Alien vs. Predator.” An alternate ending for “The Predator” would have included the unexpected arrival of Ellen Ripley and Newt. Twenty-eight years after an Xenomorph skull was first seen in “Predator 2,” these films continued to reference each other regularly.

Although the movie “Alien: Romulus” doesn’t seem to be planning a direct connection to the Predator saga, its director Fede Alvarez has expressed keen interest in leading an Alien vs. Predator film. Alvarez suggested that he and Dan Trachtenberg, the latest Predator helmer, could collaborate on different parts of the feature, emulating the style of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s “Grindhouse” collaboration. It appears that both studio executives and artists are eager for this science fiction crossover.

The lasting appeal of the Alien vs. Predator series demonstrates that powerful ideas can emerge from unexpected sources. For instance, an Easter egg in Predator 2 or comic books published by Dark Horse in the late ’80s have continued to shape popular culture. What started as a humorous Easter egg has grown into a multimedia franchise, proving that inspiration for art can come from the most unlikely places, such as battles between Predators and Xenomorphs.

Alien vs. Predator is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

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2025-04-19 21:12