Lost Alien Sequels That Could Have Changed the Franchise Forever

The highly acclaimed science fiction film series, “Alien,” is renowned for its debatable installments that often fall short of expectations, and this doesn’t even account for the separate “Alien vs. Predator” films, a topic for another discussion. It’s almost impossible for any movie to rival the brilliance of “Alien” and “Aliens,” two masterpieces that were remarkably similar yet strikingly dissimilar. Few film franchises can produce a sequel powerful enough to match the original, a challenge well-known by many Hollywood producers. Making one exceptional film is challenging; creating multiple classics is an even greater feat. Yet, Ridley Scott and his team continue their pursuit of crafting the next outstanding “Alien” franchise sequel.

As a die-hard Alien fan, I can confidently say that while Romulus may not be hailed as an eternal cinematic classic, it undeniably stood out as the finest sequel to the original Alien in years. The film’s success lay in its ability to stay true to what made the first two installments remarkable, all while infusing a fresh and intriguing perspective. Over the past four decades, numerous attempts have been made to replicate this balance within the Alien franchise, but for one reason or another, these projects failed to progress beyond the initial stages of development. Regrettably, some of these unrealized sequels might have surpassed what ultimately ended up on our screens.

Alien lll

Instead of the direction taken in Alien 3, the original script for Alien 3 by William Gibson would have offered a distinct twist on the franchise. Like Alien 3 and Aliens, it would have continued the plot from Aliens. However, rather than Hicks (Michael Biehn) dying tragically and Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) retiring, this version would have left Ripley comatose, effectively removing her from the storyline. The main events of the movie would have unfolded on a vast space station called Anchorpoint, where Hicks and Bishop (Lance Henriksen) would have battled hordes of genetically-engineered xenomorphs, creating an exciting blend of science fiction and action.

Instead of that initial version, the film underwent a rewrite to align more with the style of “Alien”. In this revised storyline, Ripley would still be disabled, but Hicks, Bishop, and a group of new characters would find themselves chasing after only three xenomorphs in a tense game. The horror elements were intensified, and the risks heightened, potentially making it an exciting addition to the “Alien” series. Regrettably, that film was never produced, and instead, “Alien 3” hit theaters in 1992. It’s fascinating to speculate about what might have been if Gibson’s script had been implemented. For those interested, the first draft of “Alien 3” has been turned into a novel and was published in August 2021.

Alien 5

In 2009, Neil Blomkamp burst onto the Hollywood scene with the release of “District 9,” showcasing his exceptional talent for crafting a distinctly original sci-fi narrative accompanied by stunning visuals. This South African director rapidly emerged as one of the industry’s most promising newcomers, garnering widespread acclaim. Although his subsequent films, “Elysium” and “Chappie,” didn’t quite meet the expectations set by “District 9,” there was still much to admire about his work. As a result, when it was revealed in 2015 that Blomkamp would be working on a fresh sequel for the “Alien” franchise, there was considerable anticipation that he would deliver a successful continuation.

Though temporarily referred to as “Alien 5”, the movie planned to disregard the occurrences in both “Alien 3” and “Alien: Resurrection”. Instead, it aimed to serve as a direct follow-up to “Aliens”. Initially titled “Alien: Awakening”, the story intended to bring back characters like Ripley, Hicks, and even Newt. Artist Geoffroy Thoorens created intriguing concept art featuring severely scarred Hicks and innovative xenomorph designs, including Ripley fashioning armor from a xenomorph carcass. Neill Blomkamp appeared to have clear ideas for his “Aliens” sequel, but with the emergence of “Alien: Covenant” and Blomkamp’s struggles concerning “Chappie”, “Alien 5” was indefinitely put on hold.

Alien: Paradise Lost

In 2012, the film “Prometheus” sparked debate among fans of the “Alien” series. Some found issues with the movie’s logic, particularly from a group of supposedly trained scientists. However, others admired “Prometheus” as a visually impressive sci-fi blockbuster, promising to steer the “Alien” franchise towards an intriguing new chapter filled with endless potential. Additionally, the film’s conclusion hinted at further adventures for character Elizabeth Shaw (played by Noomi Rapace), set on a mysterious distant planet. Given that “Prometheus” earned over $400 million globally, there was certainly reason to be enthusiastic. When Ridley Scott announced in 2015 that the sequel would be called “Alien: Paradise Lost,” it seemed as though everything was falling into place nicely.

Occasionally, when something appears excessively appealing, it turns out to be a misleading promise. For instance, when Scott initially introduced Alien: Paradise Lost as a soft launch, the team later altered their plans and revealed that the film would instead be titled Alien: Covenant. This change of heart centered around a spaceship named Covenant, where a group of colonists were to travel. Contrary to our expectations, there was no longer much emphasis on Elizabeth Shaw’s story – at least not as we had hoped. Instead, Alien: Covenant concentrated predominantly on the character David (played by Michael Fassbender) and the colonist team. Rather than exploring further the enigmatic planet of Engineers, we were served a generic sci-fi blockbuster that fell short of providing any memorable moments for the Alien series. Regrettably, continuing Shaw’s narrative would have likely led to similar outcomes, but now, we can only speculate.

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2025-01-18 03:40