How Firing A Key Cast Member Changed Aliens Forever

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When James Cameron wanted to make a sequel to Ridley Scott's sci-fi epic Alien, there was a lot at stake. Not only was Cameron relatively inexperienced at the time, but the notion of making a sequel to Alien was hard to get green lit. Even as production got started James Cameron hit a pretty substantial speed bump. His original actor playing Cpl. Hicks was fired from production, only to be replaced with a completely new person. But why exactly did they fire the original Cpl. Hicks from Aliens?
#aliens #jamescameron #nerdstalgic
Written by Dave Baker
Edited by Paul Ritchey

[@ryankuhlman7348]

Michael Biehn is the ultimate“that guy” in so many great movies and never gets enough credit for it.

[@jefferydraper4019]

I have watched and enjoyed him in several movies. Time Bomb where he played the brainwashed thug Eddie Kay was great.

[@MaloPiloto]

Ryan, you are spot-on. He’s great!

[@Darkko88]

Apparently he fell from grace in hollywood because he could be hard to work with, had a tendency to try to tell directors what to change in their scripts and how to shoot the movie and he wasn't charismatic enough to be and A-lister. To me, Terminator and Aliens wouldn't be as great as they are without him.

[@wesfoster1178]

He's one of those actors who you wanted to see more of in movies. He's a great evil villain in Tombstone. Sympathetic antagonist in The Abyss. And he's great when he's playing the hero. I wish we had more of him over the years.

[@germanicelt]

He's going to be at an Aliens screening at a cinema near me this month, for a live Q&A.

[@kingturtle9552]

Killing off Newt and Hicks off screen wounded this franchise big time, I remember watching Alien 3 and losing a lot of interest when it confirmed they were killed.

[@Zerofightervi]

It's funny how studios are still making that same mistake today, killing a character off screen is very lazy in my opinion. Look at Doctor Elizabeth Shaw in Prometheus, killed off screen in Alien Covenant.

[@Wolf10media]

If they retcon those deaths, they would have to recast Newt since the original actress quit acting after Aliens.

[@LukeLovesRose]

They also made Ripley a weird whore who would have sex with an ex con and then not hold any grudges after being nearly raped by the convicts on this prison planet. They had nothing while Cameron seemed to have mapped out everything about Ellen Ripley. He gave us what is arguably the greatest action heroine ever put to film.

[@TheZachary86]

Alien 3 was originally a continuation of the previous casts. It was stuck in development hell for so long they changed the script

[@Zerofightervi]

@@TheZachary86 I've heard about what happened, studio interference, not trusting a young unproven director. There's apparently a different cut of the film where the Alien actually comes out of an Ox & not a dog but I've never seen this version. I think the decision to kill off Newt & Hicks was a terrible one, audiences hating the film in the first few seconds. I myself will NEVER watch Terminator Dark Fate for killing off John Conner in the opening seconds of the film. Not only did they kill the character, they killed the franchise in doing that.

[@StewartFletcher]

Hicks can stand shoulder to shoulder with Aragorn and Marty McFly as great last minute recasts that saved iconic films

[@comikdebris]

Michael J Fox was the first choice to play Marty. He was unavailable so Eric Stoltz was hired. They didn't like Stoltz's Marty, too serious. They begged Fox and the producer of Family Ties let take the roll over. I'm not sure for how long, but Fox was filming Family Ties 8 -10 hours. Then jump in a waiting car and off to the set of B2F and film another 10 hours. Sleeping when he was able.

[@rezaiyaz1439]

who was supposed to play aragorn originally?

[@aritzmartinezrodriguez1825]

To be fair BTTF was the only one saved by the recast (and Michael J. Fox was always their first option). Both LotR and Aliens are probably better movies with the change, but I am pretty sure they would both had been pretty amazing movies still.

[@multipass113]

@@rezaiyaz1439 Stuart Townsend

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@rezaiyaz1439 Lestat from Queen of the Damned.

[@Shinobi33]

Kyle Reese, Col Hicks, and Johnny Ringo. Michael played 3 of the most memorable characters in 3 of the most timeless films in modern cinema. All in like 10 years. Gifted actor.

[@coolcat6303]

He was also excellent as the crazed Navy Seal Lieutenant in “The Abyss”.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

@@coolcat6303 - I agree! He really played against type in that film. Shame it's sort of been forgotten over time.

[@tclass99]

Don’t forget “The Abyss”… another James Cameron classic that also included Biehn… as a soldier lol (bad guy this time though and he still killed it). Def one of my favourite actors.

[@GLYDR]

Corporal Hicks, not Colonel

[@Shinobi33]

@@GLYDR oh sorry Cpl not Col

[@hissatsu4937]

I still haven't gotten over it. Killing off Hicks was absolutely unforgivable.

[@LastNameTom]

Nope. It was perfect! Remember in the previous movies they said the xenomorph was the ultimate killer, the perfect specimen. By having them escape it reduces the xenomorph to just an animal you can escape from. By killing them, it proves how bad the xenomorphs are and that if you ever come across one, you WILL die. It was a great move that really drove home how dangerous the xenomorphs are.

[@numberyellow]

Except, canonically, he's not dead. The DLC campaign for Colonial Marines (Which IS canon, as per FOX), reveals that he is, in fact, alive.

[@LastNameTom]

@@numberyellow dumb.

[@Skitdora2010]

I remember crying when I found out and feeling nauseous the first time I watched Alien 3. I felt ill when watching Resurrection too when her baby was sucked through the hole in the window too, so I think they got what they were aiming for in 3.

[@fuzzyfennec7493]

@@LastNameTom I agree, it's not something you can get away from easily. Almost like the Queen said, I may die, but here's a little suprise for you (leaving the egg). It's a persistent organism!

[@rogerfurlong1535]

Biehn is always a memorable character in his movies. Underrated.

[@theradgegadgie6352]

I'm your Huckleberry.

[@fordprefect4728]

been in alot of good movies but i think being a soldier in 3 diff movies for cameron kinda type casted him.

[@coolcat6303]

@@fordprefect4728 And he almost played a soldier again. Cameron originally wanted Biehn to play the evil Colonel in Avatar but eventually decided it would be too much like an Aliens reunion.

[@jonboz7585]

Totally agree about your assessment of Biehn.

[@GLYDR]

@@theradgegadgie6352 why Johnny Ringo, we started a game we never got to finish.

[@dwaynehicks3867]

I've never even considered "Hicks" and "Reese" as the same person. So different but both awesome. Thank you Michael Biehn

[@judsongaiden9878]

Hicks is more stoic. Reese exudes a more manic energy.

[@arthurchadwell9267]

He also did a fine turn in a 1980 film The Fan, with Lauren Bacall where he nails being a psycho stalker.

[@TheJpf79]

No one ever considered them as the same person.

[@schwegburt3002]

@@judsongaiden9878 Yah, Reese conveys the vibe that he grew up as a hunted animal that eventually learned to fight back. Perfect for someone from the post apocalyptic future of Terminator.

[@judsongaiden9878]

@@schwegburt3002 Every time he shoots or throws a pipe bomb at the Terminator, you can see the pure justified hate on his face as well as raw determination.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

Remar has basically said he fucked up, and that Cameron was right in firing him in that situation, he's never bad blooded either Cameron or the film itself. And that's class...

[@ChrisMeadows1992]

Met him at a convention in Dallas and he was genuinely one of the kindest, most authentic celebrities I've ever met, the man has total grace.

[@aritzmartinezrodriguez1825]

A real man/woman owns his/her fuck ups. Sadly blaming others is more common.

[@krashd]

The same thing happened to Charlie Heaton of Stranger Things but in the opposite direction, he was found with drugs on him in the US so was sent home to the UK and it was looking like it was going to cause problems for the show but somehow they fixed it. In the US money talks so the studio likely greased some palms to get his visa returned to him and then kicked him up the arse for the trouble he caused.

[@stream_gene]

Making a mistake is one thing, not taking responsibility and learning from it is another. I always find comfort in the stories where people do grow from their experiences 🙂

[@coolcat6303]

I’m glad Biehn got the role but it would’ve been really interesting to see Remar playing Hicks. I’ve always enjoyed seeing him in other films like The Dream Team, Judge Dredd and Dexter.

[@joet7136]

Michael Biehn is such a pro's pro. Come in at the last minute and make a gigantic impact on an iconic movie.

[@jasonmunt1463]

Michael Biehn is the most underrated action star of all time.

[@Veldtian1]

The Abyss, his narcosis psycho SEAL character was an awesome villain, Beihn's a true actor.

[@joeking6972]

He truly is a real human Biehn

[@spicyghost1323]

​@@joeking6972 😂

[@tblewis419]

He's a jerk in person I met him at a convention a few years ago a lady in front of me asked him about a scene he said how am I supposed to remember that I did a lot of things after aliens you know signed her photo and basically threw it at her. I called him an a****** and walked out of line

[@LoopHoleLeeRoy]

Alright lunnnnger, let’s do this.

[@hellojam100]

Michael Biehn was perfect as Hicks and was also prefect as Reese. As the video said "steely yet vulnerable"

[@worsethanhitlerpt.2539]

Remar is a little too creepy to be Hicks Michael is the guy even if the role is too similar to Terminator

[@seantoon01]

Is it no surprise that Michal Biehn is also in The Abyss, another James Cameron masterpiece

[@DeltaAssaultGaming]

The Abyss was no masterpiece

[@seantoon01]

@@DeltaAssaultGaming your opinion which you’re entitled to, same as I am.

[@user-we4xu5pr1m]

Which proved that even as a rather villainous (or twisted by HPNS) character he acts great.

[@redmenace1135]

@@DeltaAssaultGamingit is now.

[@PaulLoh]

Michael Biehn is a family friend. Both our families live in Arizona, and I've worked with his wife on a film shot at Old Tucson. I was so excited a few years ago, when he started posting news of an Alien sequel that was going to retcon Alien 3, and have Hicks return. Alas, nothing came of that. I loved his role in Aliens, but sadly it seems as if we'll have to cherish all the more the one Alien film with him in it.

[@JoePedo]

Loved Hicks. Never felt the franchise did him justice. That said, I do consider Alien 3 to be canonical. It can't be changed

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Hicks, Newt and Bishop were such fantastic characters, and each of them had their own unique chemistry with Ripley. After all this time, I still can't wrap my head around the sheer stupidity of killing them off. All I can do is view it the same way I view Terminator: There were only ever two (utterly fantastic) film in the series. The others simply don't exist!

[@fishgutz4272]

Bishop comes back in AVP. 😉😁😆😅 Though technically not if the Alien franchise.

[@Beery1962]

Absolutely right! It's similar to The Matrix, of which there was only ever one film in that series.

[@GORT70]

‘I like to keep this handy……for close encounters’. Just about the most badass line of all time.

[@stream_gene]

You raise a good point about Biehn's performance in Terminator, Hicks could have so easily become a Reese copy, but damn those subtle differences are there.

[@joehart6051]

Reese is intense, Hicks is easygoing.

[@stream_gene]

@@joehart6051 That's part of it, sure. Whilst they're similar Hicks had what could be considered a relatively normal life. He'd have a childhood, teen years, etc. Reese didn't have that, he has only known survival and to always be on guard. You can see it how both characters interact with others, Reese has this weird detachment because he's never experienced the world as it is in the past, he's never had to socialise, develop people skills, he's only known how to survive like an animal in the wild, Sarah brings him out of his shell so to speak. Hicks on the other hand is able to form connections with Newt and Ripley easily, his scene showing Ripley how to fire the gun is delicately done, shows a side to Hicks that Reese didn't have. I really have come to appreciate how good an actor Biehn actually is.

[@OptimusWombat]

@@stream_gene I never thought of it that way, but you're spot on.

[@juvandy]

To add to this discussion, it's neat to also contrast these 'good guy' performances with his bad guy turns in The Abyss and Tombstone. He's playing a psychopath in both, but just like here his psychopathy is very different in those roles. In The Abyss he is clearly just going insane, whereas in Tombstone he is comfortable being crazy.

[@stream_gene]

@@juvandy great point. People all have the same layers, just in different orders. Great actors recognise that.

[@reptongeek]

Sigourney Weaver actually got an Oscar nomination for playing Ripley, which was huge

[@dannyhernandez1212]

Micheal Bien's combination of fear and strength at the sane time made Hicks a movie icon.

[@wattsnottaken1]

Aliens and Alien are the type of movies that get better every time you re-watch it, I swear. Happens to me everytime such good movies Alien and Aliens

[@LastNameTom]

Dude, watch the KZbin video, "alien 3, the compromised masterpiece." You'll see actually how great of a movie it is after that.

[@krashd]

@@LastNameTom Yeah, I was just going to reply to Spark that Alien3 also gets better every time you watch it, each Alien movie has its own merits, for me the third one gives a sense of dread not found in the first or second due to how bleak Fiorina 161 is and how not everyone is happy to have Ripley there. Not to mention some of the cinematography is just outstanding.

[@toddklempan105]

2 movies in my top 10.

[@chatteyj]

You should try not watching aliens or alien for over 5 years and then watch. Its so good.

[@chatteyj]

@@krashd Aliens is practically a heart warming story compared to alien and alien 3 but especially compared to alien 3.

[@MadMaxx.1977]

The real tragedy Aliens was that we never got the true sequel we deserved.

[@zimriel]

we did. it was Isolation EDIT - well, interquel, technically

[@petrmaly9087]

I liked Alien 3. It was a different genre (same as Aliens was compared to Alien) and it was a good movie. I didn't have any expectations when I saw it for the first time and I liked it very much. The assembly cut is even better.

[@nadagabri5783]

100%.

[@davidszabo1618]

Dark Horse comics did a great sequel in their comics which later became a full cplour graphic novel

[@jotr.9786]

well even aliens wasn't as much about alien as it was about jimmy's feminist wet dreams so ...

[@rickstark2963]

Aliens 3 fails because it opens up with everyone being dead. Hicks , Bishop, Newt are dead, Ripley is infected by an alien, and will be dead, she goes to A maximum security prison where everyone sentenced to life - or until death. The story has no place to go. In addition, the premise is completely unbelievable, there's no way possible an alien egg could have been aboard Ripley's ship.

[@dune3001]

The worst mistake that movie does is being so, so boring. They could have really worked the grief angle, or made the characters have some depth to them ...I literally can't remember a single one except Ripley and I saw it a few times on cable

[@Tommykey07]

I think Alien 3 is a good movie, but I just hate the direction it took the franchise

[@nalday2534]

such a shallow and nerdy way to critique a film

[@curioustrout]

@@nalday2534 But a perfectly valid way to critique a franchise entry

[@blitzmotorscooters1635]

Alien 3 is actually BETTER than Aliens IMHO. To each their own

[@animanaut]

Paxton being the hidden hero here. He faced all of them: Terminator, Alien and Predator

[@warblerblue]

Lance Henriksen also faced all 3: Terminator, Alien and Predator.

[@animanaut]

@@warblerblue you are right, of course. i forgot

[@MrAgmoore]

@@RobertLutece909 aliens versus predator but I fell asleep halfway through that movie - so that's my review.

[@warblerblue]

@@RobertLutece909 2004 · Alien vs. Predator: Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. With Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, Ewen Bremner.

[@jasonhurdlow6607]

And Tornados... don't forget Twister!

[@grene1955]

Michael Biehn elevates every movie he's in. He is the "everyman hero" or villain, that as a viewer, you immediately connect with. Incredibly underrated.

[@joshtaylor6086]

I've always thought that Michael Bienh was massively underrated.

[@SMbigpapi]

Michael Biehn is good in all his movies

[@Madanth0ny]

He’s the go to futuristic solider he’s even in far cry retro game blood dragon lol

[@grimm_destroyer5566]

@@Madanth0ny you mean Rex Power Colt lol that's his version of The Terminator

[@LukeLovesRose]

Hes amazing as the bad guys in The Abyss and Tombstone

[@XRoyBatty6]

K2!

[@spookrockcity]

The Divide

[@allanaruba]

Thank god for fate, with respects to Remar, Hicks was such a massive part of Aliens. The chemistry with Ripley was perfectly put across without feeling forced or like it took away from the story. Totally agree that writing off Hicks & Newt, to get back to Ripley against the odds did deflate the growth Aliens had made to the classic franchise. Ripley was such a badass but it was good to see her connect with those around her.

[@kiwi_comanche]

He was PERFECT for the role of Cpl. Hicks. Looking back I can't imagine anyone else playing him with such authenticity. Cameron played it smart, hiring a man that he knew he could count on, as well as knowing that Biehn had to go through weapons training for the Terminator film, saving a lot of hassle. The rest of the crew had to undergo a rigourous training regimen laid down by UKSF, and Biehn was brought on after that.

[@wolfsongrambler8903]

One of my most beloved & rewatched sci-fi horror movies of all time perfected by replacing James Remar with Michael Biehn😂. This movie had everything you could ask for; wildly entertaining story, great dialogues, a genius film director, perfectly cast characters in movie history. Wish there were more movies like this..

[@MultiDarkElf]

Don't forget about the awesome visual effects which remain very impressive today because they feel real. That Alien queen is one badass and scary creature. How the crew managed to pull of the fact that she performs as if she was real is pure artistry and engineering talent. And there is James Horner's suspenseful and exciting score. Aliens is my favorite film ever.

[@federicomartinez9198]

I recently watched this movie for the first time in my life. Im 28, and I was completely amazed of how good the visuals and the story were compared to the 1. I had a lot of emotions during the film, James Cameron makes masterpieces!

[@MultiDarkElf]

@@federicomartinez9198 You make me envious of your first watch of Aliens. I can still remember mine from about 30 years ago (I'm now 47), it was the best and most awesome movie I saw back then and has remained that until now. The blend of Sci-fi horror action has never been bettered IMO. Cameron is a superb director, having made some of my most beloved films, but Aliens will always be number 1.

[@Skitdora2010]

I used to watch Aliens everyday during summer vacation on the living room couch and every day different family members used to sit down and watch it with me. Nobody ever complained.

[@federicomartinez9198]

@@MultiDarkElfEven though with today technology, modern CGI, and all the AI they put in modern films. They didn't even produced me 5% of the nerve-breaking action this one gave me! Thank you a lot for sharing your story! I'll be sure to make my son (when i got one) it too!

[@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777]

Killing off Newt and Hicks at the beginning of Alien 3 is unforgivable. Edit- I forgive them because God says I must forgive. And those who do not forgive cannot not expect forgiveness. But, mannnnn. It still hurt!

[@nalday2534]

omg just grow tf up already

[@-batman-1328]

I think it would have been better if hicks was impregnated during three and sacrificed himself to save Ripley and Newt at the end but that’s me

[@justrok79]

Yep, I remember instantly hating that movie from the revelation of that.

[@CordeliaWagner]

I liked the movie. I don't like children so I was fine with Newts dead, but Hick's death was sad.

[@thetraveller1246]

Agreed

[@ejames3349]

I was in a huge theater in Westwood, CA for the premiere of Aliens. We all new what the alien was going to look like and do, but the tension in the audience waiting for it to appear was truly palpable. When we just knew that moment was getting close, Hicks says to Ripley "Are you scared?" Suddenly, someone in the audience yells out "We're all scared!" The audience lost it. It was the comic relief for the fear we all felt! Lol! Btw...Michael Biehn was the perfect actor for the role. Ok. For any role he's put into.

[@boreopithecus]

Are you sure he says that? I don’t remember that from the movie.

[@NGBRADLEY1991]

I appreciate you mentioning Terminator as a horror movie, it’s often forgot just how much of a slasher film it is. Same with Aliens being forgotten as a horror and regarded as a sci fi action action thriller. Predator is another film that people forget all about its horror elements.

[@zebertmcfly7274]

Not just that. Whenever I call Terminator a slasher film, people tend to be completely flabbergasted, as if I've said something sacriligious. It's just the film at face value, pals.

[@blackdragon5274]

Probably because none of them are really scary, least not to me

[@diallo1347]

I always liked how Terminator and Alien are amazing horror movies, and Terminator 2 and Aliens are amazing action movies.

[@leegon337]

Out of curiosity, how would you class The Predator (2018)? was it a horror, comedy or a family drama? its a tricky one i know lol

[@FREEDOM_OR_DEATH_]

None of these movies are Horror movies, because Horror movies suck. These movies have nothing in common with Freddy or Jason and other similar garbage. Alien, Terminator, and Predator may have some scary scenes in it, but they also have guns and that doesn't make them War movies, they also have jokes and that doesn't make them Comedies. So sick of Horror movie fans trying to claim these films in their favorite genre.

[@0num4]

Ellen Ripley is one of the greatest characters of any film ever, let alone a female lead. Incredible performance by Ms. Weaver and the whole cast and crew. ❤️

[@nobody3120zX]

Yeah and "girl power" wasn't shoved into our throats. Her leadership was natural.

[@yorgle]

The William Gibson script for Alien 3 focused on Hicks and Newt... It was REALLY good, and such a shame it was scrapped for the Alien III that we ended up with.. :(

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Gotta deify Ripley.

[@jimh472]

@@badlaamaurukehu I think it was more about Weaver wanting out and giving Ripley a memorable death. Sadly it also killed the franchise.

[@dannydorito9134]

I always liked the Idea that Alien 3 should have been a passing of the touch movie where by the end of the film a somehow older Newt becomes the hero of the franchise taking the mantle from Ripley I think it would have had more longevity overall if they had done something like that with it but alas they did not

[@wintersun398]

that’s a really great concept!

[@zimriel]

Wasn't that the theme of the Alien comics? later retconned as "Outbreak" (badly).

[@antonleimbach648]

Seeing this movie in the theatre on that huge screen surrounded by friends was a great time back in the day.

[@user-we4xu5pr1m]

Yep. I remember how they served refreshment wipes labelled "After Aliens" at the cinema entrance and during the show they levelled up the amps .... in the shuttle sequence you had to protect your ears as it truly sounded like an engines on passenger plane 15 meters away. Back then that movie truly kicked ass.

[@JWickyJr13]

I remember watching Aliens with my now ex because we were prepping for Prometheus and I was like you need to watch at least the first two lol. My proudest moment was when Hicks peaked his head up in the ceiling and saw the aliens crawling toward camera. She freaked out. I was so happy. Lol

[@TalkingHands308]

Love all the little details Cameron puts into his characters. Like how Hicks falls asleep during the drop scene, lol. "Somebody wake up Hicks" always cracks me up even though it's such a trivial thing. But it kind of reminds me of real military life, how you have to try to catch some sleep any chance you get, haha.

[@erictaylor5462]

Do a story on how the actor who played Newt wanted nothing to do with acting after making this movie. Instead she became a school teacher, teaching 4th grade. The grade she missed while filming Aliens. She did attend 4th grade, but it was a class of one with an on set tutor.

[@Debbie338]

Hicks is one of my favorite movie characters of all time. I was incredibly disappointed when he was confirmed dead and almost didn’t bother to watch the rest of #3.

[@00xanawolf00]

I remember sitting down to watch Alien 3 in the movie theater. The second I learned what the Alien 3 scriptwriters did to Reese and Newt, I cursed, loudly, and got up and walked out. Over half of the theater followed me. It was surreal, but in that moment, we were all connected by our love for James Cameron’s Aliens and our contempt for what the Alien 3 writers did to two of its most beloved characters.

[@jefferydraper4019]

As a fan of both Remar and Biehn Im glad Michael Biehn ended up with this role. James Remar has never given off that image of the guy you can fall in love with. He was always the angry loner.

[@TaskForce_911]

Imagine arguing and going against James Cameron 💀 That man always delivers

[@Kusanagikaiser999]

To this day I can't believe that Michael Biehn didn't become as huge as Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sigourney Weaver to me he is as important part as James Cameron was to these 2 films. I can't see anyone else doing this role as Michael did it, he just add so much vulnerability in such a human and badasses characters as Hicks and Kyle, he was the JOHN MCCLAIN before Die Hard even happened and is a shame he remain underrated, the man is a hero to me and I wish Alien 3 keep him and Newt alive.

[@comradecid]

the thing that always struck me about Michael Biehn is that he always came off as imperfect, whilst simultaneously harbouring a kind, caring heart. this struck me as being convincingly and compellingly fatherly, and heroic. in no way casting a negative light on James Remar's work, i'd still ask for Biehn to be my dad any day before i'd ask for Remar.

[@hellfish2309]

James Reimar is underrated, but the cast and their characters sing beautifully

[@DefenestrateYourself]

@Ralph Reilly And who are you to question his opinion?

[@millerkavanagh7915]

@Ralph Reilly him and the 50+ people who liked his comment

[@rickdavis32]

@@millerkavanagh7915i like the stuff he was in, he is often overlooked or missed,.

[@michaelt2974]

I love this video thank you very much I was a big fan of Hicks character. They went through so much trouble to keep Hicks alive and newt alive in aliens it was probably one of the worst decisions ever to kill them off in alien three. What were they thinking? The storyline possibilities were endless

[@NR-rv8rz]

Wow despite being a massive fan of the film and having watched it over 20 times including documentaries, I'm always learning something new about the production. Looking forward to the upcoming documentary about it too. I like Remar a lot and would have liked to see his performance in the movie. But I agree that Bein was a better and more nuanced choice.

[@Nick64266]

Honestly Hicks was such a cool character he could have easily taken over the franchise. Leaving Ripley to find peace.

[@windowsVD]

That honestly would have been the better way to go if you ask me. Instead of ruining Ripley’s perfect ending and closure, they should have just continued with Hicks on his marine tour if they really wanted to continue the franchise. On the way, he could have encountered more Xenomorphs or even other deadly species of aliens instead, given that the series is called Alien so it doesn’t have to be specific to one species. Heck, one of the early unused drafts of Alien 3’s script even toyed with the idea of following Hicks as the lead instead. Ripley’s arc was done, bringing her back in any capacity would have almost certainly detracted from her journey in Aliens.

[@arcturionblade1077]

@@windowsVD Yeah, they should've went with William Gibson's unused screenplay for Alien 3 where Hicks and Bishop were the main character leads but they went instead with continuing Ripley's story as the lead. Gibson's Alien 3 was adapted as a comic book/graphic novel run along with audiobook on Audible with Michael Biehn and Lance Henricksen reprising their respective roles. It's worth a listen!

[@joehart6051]

Yes

[@windowsVD]

@@arcturionblade1077 I didn’t know they made that into an audiobook. I may check that out!

[@natalyamartirosyan]

Absolutely not. Wtf is going on in this thread jeuss

[@mr.pavone9719]

For those of you disappointed by the deaths of Hicks and Newt; in 1988 Dark Horse comics ran a continuation of the ALIENS storyline with them cast front and center. Ripley, however, does not show up until volume 2. I warn you, the story takes a VERY dark turn regarding their stories after the movie ends. Also, the comics are fairly expensive to get physical copies. Luckily I have the entire first print runs of volumes 1-3.

[@jonniiinferno9098]

with much power - comes much responsibility we depend on you to make digital copies of the comics in your possession and post them on the internet 😜

[@arthurchadwell9267]

Dark Horse made the sequel the studio should of. I remember those comics at the old Newark Newsstand on Main street when I was at U of Delaware (theatre major, ironically). When they came out with Alien vs Predator, I thought "this is the movie they should make!" Over 20 years later, they did (sort of)...

[@zeedub8560]

Unfortunately, after Aliens 3, DH retconned the names of the two main characters in the collected editions. The story loses a lot of its impact if it's not about Newt and Hicks. They also colored it, which never looks quite right on art that was originally b&w. That original run of the single issues is priceless. I had it, but my former best friend lost my issue #1.

[@brennanscarcello1443]

The Netflix show "The Movies That Made Us" has an episode on Aliens and James Remar is very open about is Heroin addiction at the time and he had gotten busted trying to purchase heroin. He got sober right after.

[@hunterkiller1440]

I've struggled to conclude which Cameron sequel film is better? Terminator 2 or Aliens. But the answer will always be Piranha II: Spawning.

[@jackstecker5796]

Ripley is the way to do female hero characters. Yeah, she's a badass, but her character arc of overcoming her traumatic experiences on Nostromo, fighting through her emotional baggage, learning, and growing into a leader is awesome.

[@kiwi_comanche]

Much like Naru in Prey!!

[@MisterAnonymous1000]

How can you mention James Remar and his works, yet fail to mention his most important contribution to cinema? His casting as Raiden in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

[@jonnylawless6797]

Honestly, he was a much better Raiden than Christopher Lambert or that new guy

[@jboomhauer]

How dare you. Dancer in "Rent-a-cop" was his actual best performance.

[@RokkitGrrl]

I mean, he was pretty good in 48 Hours.

[@SheyD78]

I don't know, the old master from 'Sucker Punch' was pretty good.....

[@fordprefect4728]

is there a worse sequel to a movie than that?, maybe mask 2.

[@glennkeppel9836]

Great vid, thanks. Another forgotten aspect of this movie is how awesome Vasquez is. In a time when studios are struggling to create believable female characters, they have the superbly written and acted Ripley, Vasquez, Dietrich and Ferro as models. They were all very believable (and I spent 20 years in the regular army) but Vasquez stood out IMO.

[@kookyjoeb5524]

She also had a small part in terminator 2 as John connors foster mom….

[@conanlive3784]

Vasquez was badass!! Let's rooock!!!!

[@oldKonk]

Beihn as the badguy in 'The Abyss' and as the SEAL commander in 'The Rock' were also both impeccable performances. He is a solid one of my faves.

[@gonzaleo]

Johnny Ringo in Tombstone

[@stephencooper3583]

Being ex-military makes me appreciate Aliens even more. The Space Marines were well done and realistic. They got alot of the little details right (movement, banter, tactics, equipment, etc). Maybe not "perfect", but surprisingly well done. You'd be surprised at how so many movies get the military wrong - ESPECIALLY sci-fi movies. This is one of the few that does it in a realistic and believable manner.

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Cameron hated that people liked the Colonial Marines so much that he had to make the military look like buffoons in Avatar and despite his efforts, yet again, the Colonel turned out to be the best character in the movie. Cameron's another coastal "elite" who doesn't like everyday meat and potatoes Americans who do all the heavy lifting.

[@jamesgornall5731]

Seconding this though as a Brit we would have insisted on stopping for a brew at set I intervals, Xenomorphs or not

[@ukestudio3002]

..loses it, his comrades bring him back into line reminding him of his training.

[@OptimusWombat]

@@badlaamaurukehu you're kidding, right? Why would he make the Colonial Marines such an integral part of the movie if he hated them?

[@justin1730]

Gotta love movies like Starship Troopers, where they have tents downrange from a live fire exercise.

[@roboninja3194]

It's very strange that Aliens did so well that they decided to kill off 2 main characters at the start of Alien 3. Whoever decided on that direction killed the Alien franchise as not 1 movie since Aliens has been decent.

[@Spark_Chaser]

The "Gibson Script" has been turned into both a comic adaptation under Dark Horse, and an Audio drama on Audible, with returning cast of both Michael Bein and Lance Henriksen as Hicks and Bishop, respectively. It is, in my personal opinion, a superior product to many of the later movies in the series, and would have been a much better continuation than what we got.

[@JaredP1976]

I got Michael Biehn to sign photos from 'Terminator', 'Aliens' and 'Tombstone' for me. Class act.

[@Punmaster9001]

I wouldn't hold my breath on ever seeing a quality Alien movie again. Ridley Scott seemingly wants to disown the Xenomorphs in favor of his weird fetish for AI. It would take someone actually trying to make a good movie, with little to no interference from the execs who suck at decision-making. Also, I don't know if they were planning to make it a new Alien 3 movie, or just make an Alien 5 (without numbering it) movie that ignored 3 and 4. I would love to see what Neill Blomkamp would do after District 9

[@jonnylawless6797]

He's trying to tell the story of how the xenomorph came about, he's not abandoning them. He just realized it would take more than one film between Prometheus and Alien. Hell he almost ended Prometheus with John Hurt walking into that spaceship.

[@rickstark2963]

I have an idea for a good script-- but I'm not saying what it is here.

[@Punmaster9001]

@@jonnylawless6797 He said on record the alien is done and no one cares about it, and that he wanted to focus on AI. He doesn't even know what movies he was making. Just some stupid android messing around with shit while keeping the thing (Xenomorphs) everyone wanted to see in the background. The focus of both Prometheus and Covenant was on David and him being an android.

[@nathanthom8176]

@@jonnylawless6797 he is doing something that never needed to be done and in doing so is taking mystery and wonder away and replacing it with what is unnecessarily complex (whilst somehow incredibly boring). In which every human is a goddamn moron; the other commenter is correct the Prometheus and Alien Covenant focus on the androids and it is good he did because Michael Fassbender is the only thing that makes those films watchable.

[@TheZachary86]

@@Punmaster9001 that’s stupid of him. Would be better to make an entirely new movie

[@wyrlismike]

Aliens is how you write a strong female character, it is completely believable for her character to make the strong choices she does in the film, love how hicks supports her

[@StaryBrudnyLis187]

Aliens is my childhood film. I had years of nightmares after it but watched it over and over again. Still love it. Cameron give us another real Alien movie

[@megmucklebones7538]

Same, I'd always imagine myself as Newt, stuck there ony own. That spooky feeling of being alone, stuck with me till now and provides my enjoyment of horror, sci-fi films.

[@haz80art19]

Same here, my mum made the mistake of letting me watch it when I was 11. Gave me horrible nightmares, but I still loved watching it. It's still my favourite film.

[@tezzerii]

That line to Vasquez, and her reply - best line in the film =o)

[@bjornnilsson2941]

Michael Biehn and Bill Paxton tend to bring a certain authenticity to any movie they're in which acts like a kind of glue holding the movie together. The fact that they both star in Aliens, and it being one of the most celebrated sci-fi movies of all time, is no coincidence. I cannot imagine this movie becoming such a classic without them. Shout-out to Lance Henriksen who I would put in a similar tier as the previously mentioned gentlemen and of course Sigourney Weaver who freaked it as Ripley. Aliens easily makes it into my top 10 movies of all time.

[@billwhelpley6825]

One of those great what if scenarios. Biehn was great but it would've been fun to see Remar going up against the xenomorphs and acting across from Weaver. He would've brought more of a bad-ass vibe like Russell's MacReady in the Thing.

[@BOBSMITHH]

I'll never get tired of this movie and Michael Biehn is the ONLY Hicks!

[@SamuelPearlman]

It's good to see Biehn getting recognized rather than just made fun of. So many iconic roles - Terminator, Aliens, Tombstone, and on and on

[@jenbill]

The thing I remember most about Aliens is (RIP) Bill Paxtons character the winy marine with his “ That’s just great what are we supposed to do now” a term I use often today lol

[@papalazarou7880]

Aliens is my favourite film of all time. Wish we could have a Alien film close to this level again. Biehn was 100% the right man to play Hicks.

[@KageNoTora74]

During the hive assault scene filming, Remar blasted a live shell from the shotgun, resulting in a hole through the hive set that extended into the set of Little Shop of Horrors next door. Al Mathews immediately went full Marine Sergeant on Remar, demanding to know where he got live ammo in typically colorful Marine language. Shortly thereafter, Remar's stash was found and, of course, he was sent home and replaced by Bien.

[@arthurchadwell9267]

Where did he get live ammo, especially in gun-shy Britan?

[@KageNoTora74]

It could have come across in his luggage, or someone else's, or bought locally because there are some guns allowed in Britain.

[@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167]

@@arthurchadwell9267 shotguns are quite common in rural areas. Strictly licensed mind you. Farming as well as leisure purposes ie. clay pigeon/rabbit hunting etc. Hear gunshots daily round my way. Handguns are illegal.

[@KageNoTora74]

@@thesnoopmeistersnoops5167 It's my understanding that one may own a Colt M1911A1 or similar handgun in the UK under the provision that a long rod with a counterweight is attached to the heel of the grip.

[@johnedwards6124]

The absolutely did not happen. Nice try tho

[@johnglover4453]

Aliens is one of THE best movies of all time! It's certainly in the top 10, easily. CGI is put to shame by this visually delicious timeless classic!

[@zam6877]

This was definitely my favorite For the relationships, like you said But also how, Ripley traumatized from the last encounter, faced and won against the aliens

[@MrMachu22]

Micheal biehn is fantastic in this film huge fan of the actor.

[@hunterkiller1440]

Apparently James Cameron was making a screenplay about a human mother fighting an alien hivemind with its mother. When he was hired with Alien Sequel, he reworked that mother script into Aliens.

[@Alvan81]

The drop ship readying/boarding, drop is pure Sci fi brilliance.

[@Bill-Sama-Gates-Laden]

aliens has been my favorite movie for 30 years, and i've never looked at it from this perspective. nice video

[@ValdoMorais]

Hollywood be like " you had me at $"

[@CircusFreaks666]

1:47

[@VegimorphtheMovieBoy]

The Director's Cut of Aliens is amazing and my top favorite of Cameron's films so far. Such a great array of characters that I wanted to see in future adventures! Blomkamp's continuation of that sounds awesome and I wish that could have come to fruition. I have yet to see Alien 3, but considering that I've heard that they kill Newt, Hicks, and Bishop off right away, I probably never will.

[@LukeLovesRose]

Yes. Theres no better way to watch Aliens. After you see Aliens: Special Edition, there's no going back

[@EACru2002]

I respect your opinion, but I personally don't like the Special Edition because they show you what happened on the planet before Ripley and the marines land on it. It's not so much that it kills the mystery of it all (though it does also do that), it's more the fact that the scenes take you out of the perspective of Ripley or any of our main characters. Perspective is an important thing in films, and the reason why the theatrical version works and feels so tight and lean is because everything is told through the sharply defined perspective of Ripley. You really feel the trauma and PTSD and nightmares that she's going through which makes her going back to the planet to confront them all the more meaningful. The Special Edition suddenly spending 10 minutes away from her to showcase two new characters who quickly die off earlier feels like it's "breaking the rules" of its own film and lacks meaningful perspective. The scenes feel like they "float above" the movie's narrative tension. I will say though, it's just those scenes specifically that I have an issue with. If the Special Edition just didn't have those scenes but had all the other extended bits, then I would 100% agree it's the better cut.

[@VegimorphtheMovieBoy]

@@EACru2002That's fair. I didn't personally mind it because we're following Newt during those scenes about and it was interesting to see how the colony functioned before its destruction but I see what you mean. Yeah, I love the Special Edition because it goes deeper into the characters and their relationships and it really got me to care about and root for them.

[@ponncho]

You just knew that this dude was the man when Sergeant Apone said, “somebody wake up Hicks!” during the Gunship drop from space.

[@thatjeff7550]

I was pleasantly surprised you included scenes of the automated turrets from the movie. IIRC, that part was cut from the original that released in theatres and was later released in the director's cut. While it was a nice touch to see the marines weren't totally ill-prepared, the turret scene really didn't add much to the movie and I think it was smart to cut it. As for your comment about later movies, I don't quite understand what you're talking about--there wasn't a sequel to Aliens. (someone on the side: "But there was--") THERE ARE NO SEQUELS AFTER ALIENS!!!!!!

[@manuelramos3588]

Not just one of the greatest movies of its genre but one of the greatest films ever..

[@foxyboiiyt3332]

The real love story of Aliens was Hicks and Hudson! Everyone wanted those guys to make it out alive

[@arthurchadwell9267]

Game over, man! Game over!

[@mannylugz5872]

I like Vasquez. A brave s0ldier wh0 defended everyb0dy until the end.

[@arthurchadwell9267]

@@mannylugz5872 she was awesome!

[@zimriel]

@@mannylugz5872 I just want to know one thing, where they are.

[@johnmichaud6453]

“LET’S ROCK!”

[@mikem3543]

So many great horror/action sci-fi from the late 70’s to the early 90’s. The thing, alien/aliens, terminator, T2, they live, the fly, the list goes on and on.

[@soldierski1669]

Fun Facts. Mike was in the USMC. The SGT was a real ARMY Sgt. Vasquez shooting in the ventilation where she dies isn't her, she couldn't fire the sidearm because she was afraid of it, a stunt double took her place. Flooring grates used in the film were found in a dump that happened to used in the 1st ALIEN.

[@RokkitGrrl]

I think that the familial dynamic was a huge deal for a lot of Generation X kids who watched the film. Many of us were latchkey kids as our parents were faced with the reality of trickle-down economics during the Reagan Era and how that single-handedly destroyed the traditional nuclear family. Divorces were were also more commonplace. In spite of (or owing to) the trials that they faced, Ripley, Hicks, and Newt represented a wholesomeness that a lot of us Gen X kids needed.

[@mr.doctorcaptain1124]

EDIT: Never mind, I just clicked on your profile picture. Holy crap. You've been through some stuff girl.

[@dongately2817]

Funny you mention that - when I was 11-12 I got home from school about an hour before my younger brother, so I had an hour to myself at home, a lot of times I’d use that hour to watch part of Aliens on tape. My little brother would always tell our mom if I watched it after he got home - he was terrified of the movie.

[@aaronleverton4221]

That and Hudson's awesome one-liners going from gung ho braggart to doom-laden coward to nothing left to lose shell-shock victim who can no longer see the larger situation because of the immediate danger in front of him.

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Yeah, had nothing to do with Johnson's failed "Great Society" and the "Long March" ruining traditional instutions at all. All Reagan's fault. Did you study American history on the back of a cereal bawks?

[@badlaamaurukehu]

@@aaronleverton4221 Hudson went out like a boss.

[@electriceye6718]

Love this movie, along with the original Predator.

[@Crunkboy415]

The chemistry between Ripley and Hicks was undeniable.

[@roncolpitts9806]

Biehn in Terminator, The Abyss, Aliens, and Tombstone. 4 of my fav movies and he rocks in all of them.

[@Marveryn]

one thing about the aliens marines is that they were not stupid good guys. their choices and action seem very in par on how an ops against an uknown force could happen. They strategies and plan but factor that were not consider cause of one reason or another allow the aliens to overrun the group.

[@Zdkim]

Michael Biehn is underrated. Aliens 3 could have been so good if James Cameron continued with the franchise.

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Got derailed trying to squeeze Ripley's lemons for every last bit of mileage.

[@blitzmotorscooters1635]

Totally diagree, Cameron is not a good director. Alien 3 is perfect the way it is, the best film in the franchise

[@zimriel]

@@blitzmotorscooters1635 a comment that asinine, you have to be on drugs. i hope your visa is current

[@blitzmotorscooters1635]

@@zimriel You have to be a true lover of film and really dissect the Alien Franchise to see what I mean. As far as James Cameron. He is the perfect example of being dealt a winning hand through no skill of his own. T2 and Aliens were going to be massive box office hits no matter who directed, period! The cast of Aliens and the screenplay was an unlosable situation, James had no hand in! In fact, that movie would have been better without him! Its insanely long, among other glaring defects that wimps never seem to want o address. Alien 3 is absolutely better, I could write an Essay on it. I will say this, Aliens is a great movie and hey, for alot of people its the #1 hit in the franchise, okay... just James Cameron is a deusch. Just look at Titanic and Avatar. BOTH TRASH MOVIES. lolololol..... just my opinion. I liked the Abyss for a long time but the ending finally wore out its welcome. Its just too hippie. LOL. have a great day

[@zimriel]

@@blitzmotorscooters1635 " You have to be a true lover of film and really dissect the Alien Franchise to see what I mean." Run for your lives! The Rick and Morty meme has attained consciousness!

[@stempo1]

Alien 3 should have focused on the Three of them, I really like the dynamic and they all worked so well together.

[@IsmaelLovecraft]

Jenette Elise Goldstein, "Private Vasquez," has virtually the same line, and just as good, in Presidio, 1988, just before her character is killed, at the start of the movie. as I remember it, a male member of the Army offers to keep her warm, just as she's about to go out on patrol, but she says that she has her coat, but the soldier says, "that's no subtitute for a man," and she responds, "neither are you."

[@davidclegg7874]

Buckinghamshire is not in London, for pity’s sake… 🤦‍♂

[@SideshowFras]

Came to say the same. I had this on in the background, and that line immediately made me rewind to check I hadn't misheard.

[@cgarciahfcu]

You'll always get people who say ALIEN is better or ALIENS is better. True fans love them both.

[@milesaway1980]

Exactly. Which one is "better" just depends on what we're in the mood to watch that day.

[@joshuaychung]

They always run as one movie to me. I've always watched both movies at the same time as a set, so I think they always blur together in my mind. I wonder what it would have been like to watch Alien, or even Aliens, in the movie theater for the first time.

[@LordPapula]

I love them both… always have. That said, I think Alien is the better film by a lot. Its on another level for me. Totally different movies, though and i get why people feel Aliens is the best. It doesn’t have that spine tingling cosmic awe of Alien. Its not meant to, and I don’t think I ever had more fun going to a movie, just… goddamn Alien is on another level.

[@GaiaShield]

Gotta love Michael for stepping in on such short notice. Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss are some of my favorite movies. It takes halfway 👎 through the video to reveal who he replaced.

[@MeBeTheDB]

I worked with Jimmy Remar (the name he preferred to be called) on BAND OF THE HAND, (1986 - dir. Paul Michael Glaser) immediately after he left the UK and went to Miami Beach, FL. For the record -- Jimmy was a true gent in every aspect of his actions and behavior on the set. I'd work with him again any day of the week. D.A.

[@Rapscallion2009]

Jesus. Only just realized - Hicks was John Connor. And Vasquez was his foster mum.

[@Rapscallion2009]

@Mad Shangi Army II indeed. That's the one I was thinking of.

[@joshuaychung]

Hicks and Hudson (played by Bill Paxton) also get sent back to 1879 to American West and have a gun fight - depicted in the movie Tombstone, which is sort of a sequel that happened in the past to the Terminator / Aliens franchise.

[@Phantoma3]

I watch this movie once per year, usually during the Xmas break. It is definitely the best in the franchise and one of the best scifi action movies of all time.

[@TRUTHISABSOLUTE777]

Good one.

[@markbrown9781]

Thanks for background information regarding Aliens always one my favorite scifi flix!

[@dougsholly9323]

This is true that Biehn made this film a hit, but the same could be said about Paxton's Hudson. That role was just as iconic in this movie.