How Alien’s Original Ending Nearly Destroyed the Iconic Franchise Forever!

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1979’s film “Alien” nearly concluded with a dramatically different, potentially disastrous finale that could have hindered the successful series that followed. In the 22nd century, Ridley Scott’s “Alien” revolves around the crew of the space freighter Nostromo who encounter a terrifying extraterrestrial being during their voyage home. This creature, later known as a “Xenomorph” in James Cameron’s 1986 sequel “Aliens”, decimates the entire Nostromo crew, leaving only Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver at that time, alive. The success of “Alien” spawned the enduring Alien franchise, which encompasses comic books, video games, streaming television (with an upcoming Hulu series titled “Alien Earth”), and even collaborations with another well-known 20th Century Fox alien creature in the “Aliens vs. Predator” franchise. However, this entire saga might have never unfolded if the original ending of “Alien” had been implemented.

Initially, the finale for the movie “Alien” wasn’t decided upon during its early stages of production. Director Ridley Scott had a completely different, much darker ending in mind that he pitched to 20th Century Fox. Although this alternate ending was never shot, Scott revealed it in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2017. Had this ending been filmed, it could have significantly altered or even ended the “Alien” franchise before its inception.

Alienā€˜s Original Ending Explained

After Ripley and her feline companion Jonesy flee on the Nostromo’s emergency vessel mere moments before the spaceship implodes due to an alien menace that wiped out her team, she initially feels a moment of relief at eliminating the terrifying creature. Yet, as Ripley prepares for another stint in cryosleep while waiting for rescue, she is shocked and petrified to find the Xenomorph hiding on the escape ship. In an attempt to get rid of it, Ripley blows open the airlock, forcing the Xenomorph out into the cold emptiness of space. The creature clings to the ship’s edge, but Ripley manages to shoot a harpoon that sends the Xenomorph flying away. The alien is then seared by flames from the ship’s engines. In director Ridley Scott’s own words to Entertainment Weekly, the original ending of Alien would have seen the Xenomorph break through Ripley’s helmet and tear her head off if the harpoon had failed to stop it.

The unproduced alternate ending for the movie ‘Alien’ becomes more outrageous as the Xenomorph takes control of the ship and communicates over the radio in a voice mimicking Captain Dallas, played by Tom Skerritt, saying “I’m signing off. I hope they pick me up.” According to Scott, he proposed this unusual ending for ‘Alien’ over the phone, but the studio reacted harshly, threatening to remove him from the film. As a result, the ending of ‘Alien’ was changed to have Ripley survive, and while the studio’s reaction may have been severe, there is strong evidence that changing the ending was the correct decision to make.

Alienā€™sĀ OriginalĀ EndingĀ WouldĀ HaveĀ HadĀ MassiveĀ Ramifications

In many horror films, a twist occurs at the end where the villain triumphs over the protagonists in a shocking final scare. For instance, the ending of Alien was initially different from what we eventually saw in theaters. This change represents a significant turning point for the Alien series, as it could have developed quite differently if Ripley had perished. However, the Alien prequels like Prometheus and Alien: Covenant prove that there are numerous tales to be told within the Alien universe without Ripley’s involvement. That said, Aliens, and most other films in the Alien series set after the original, would arguably not exist if Ripley hadn’t survived. This is because Aliens is widely regarded as a sci-fi/action masterpiece and the best of the Alien franchise by many fans, including myself. If Ripley had died, we might not have these iconic films in our collection today.

To add to that, the original ending proposed by Scott would have given the movie an unexpected turn that contradicted the eerie atmosphere built throughout. The idea of the Xenomorph having the capacity to talk and imitate human voices, particularly specific individuals, was quite outlandish. Although many aspects of the Xenomorph’s lore, such as their Facehugger-laying eggs, aren’t confirmed until Aliens, the original Xenomorph never hinted at this speaking ability. This abandoned ending of Alien could have been a pivotal moment akin to the outlandish, unrealized plans for Scott’s Gladiator II. Thankfully, Alien chose a different path that led to more terrifying storytelling.

TheĀ AlienĀ EndingĀ ChangeĀ WasĀ forĀ theĀ Best

The somber atmosphere of the original “Alien” film would’ve made Ripley’s fate all the more difficult to accept; furthermore, it would have deprived science fiction enthusiasts and cinema of an enduring legacy franchise. Not only the equally renowned “Aliens”, but also the franchise’s history, including “Alien: Resurrection” and potentially even the “Alien vs. Predator” spin-offs, would have been lost. Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal of Ripley, which carved out one of the most memorable science fiction and/or horror heroines ever, would also have been a significant loss. The transformation of Ripley from “Alien” to “Aliens”, especially her evolution from a traumatized survivor into a resilient warrior with unyielding determination, would have left a considerable void in storytelling. The movie’s ending with the Xenomorph transmitting a false message in the voice of Dallas would have ended on a weak note, and likely become a joke in future years.

The enigma surrounding the Xenomorph in the movie “Alien” makes it even more captivating as future installments explore and expand upon the unexplored aspects. While “Alien” does tell a complete story, it has evolved into a lasting legacy in sci-fi and horror films that it wouldn’t have achieved if it were just a single, depressing horror flick. Occasionally, a horror movie concludes effectively when the villain defeats all protagonists; however, “Alien” is one of those instances where the heroes prevailing was a wiser choice. The original ending of “Alien” demonstrates how significantly it could have been altered for the worse had they chosen to end on a downer note.

In case you’re a fan of the “Alien” film series, you can now stream them on Hulu and Disney+. Additionally, the upcoming installment titled “Alien: Earth” is set to premiere on Hulu this coming summer.

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2025-05-03 18:14