The Alternate Ending of Alien: A Franchise-Finishing Twist Unseen

Article Summary

Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise is the most badass female hero in horror, surpassing the traditional final girl trope.

Sigourney Weaver's performance as Ripley in Alien not only made her a memorable and iconic character but also challenged the traditional representation of female leads in horror movies.

Despite Ridley Scott's initial intention for Ripley to meet her demise in Alien, the decision to keep her alive proved to be a wise choice that not only enhanced the film but also paved the way for future installments.

When considering the female figures in horror, the typical image that comes to mind is the final girl. This refers to the young woman who manages to survive a masked killer's relentless murder spree, ultimately gaining the strength to defeat her assailant. Well-known examples include Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in Halloween, Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson in A Nightmare on Elm Street, and more recently, Neve Campbell's portrayal of Sidney Prescott in the Scream films. However, there exists a female horror hero who surpasses the badassery of any final girl. This individual is none other than Sigourney Weaver's character, Ellen Ripley, from the Alien franchise. Equipped with a flamethrower and an unwavering determination to save children, Ripley embodies the epitome of cinematic cool during the late 70s and 1980s. She exemplifies the blend of goodness and the readiness to confront and annihilate any extraterrestrial menace. Despite being adored as a protagonist, Ripley's iconic stature nearly did not come to fruition. In the initial stages of Alien, director Ridley Scott contemplated a shocking twist that would have led to her demise.

Alien (1979)

The commercial starship Nostromo's crew is awakened from cryo-sleep during their journey back home in deep space. Their purpose is to investigate a distress signal coming from an unidentified alien spacecraft. As they venture further, they stumble upon a nest of eggs concealed within the vessel. The crew's horror unfolds when a creature emerges from one of the eggs and attaches itself to a crew member, causing them to enter a coma.

Release date: June 22, 1979

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto

Runtime: 117 minutes

'Alien's Ellen Ripley Is Horror's Most Badass Female Hero

Released in 1979, Alien emerged a year after John Carpenter's Halloween. Despite their contrasting elements, the two films bear striking resemblances. It could be argued that Alien can be viewed as Halloween set in outer space, featuring an enigmatic figure lurking in the darkness and systematically eliminating Ellen Ripley's companions until she is the sole survivor. Although Alien lacks the traditional slasher tropes of sex and drinking, there is a slasher-like moment of vulnerability when the alien attacks Ripley while she is only wearing underwear.

Alien revolutionized the world of movies by presenting extraterrestrial creatures in a new and terrifyingly realistic manner. Previous films featuring such beings had never achieved the level of authenticity and fear that Alien managed to convey. While it may have been a person in a costume, the H.R. Giger design transformed the creature into a nightmarish entity from another world. The movie effectively creates a claustrophobic atmosphere through its predominantly onboard setting on the Nostromo spaceship, and the monster is undeniably terrifying. However, all these elements would be insignificant without the presence of compelling characters.

Alien boasts an exceptional ensemble cast, featuring renowned actors like Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, and Ian Holm. Yet, it was the then 28-year-old Sigourney Weaver who emerged as the film's standout star. Prior to Alien, Weaver had only played minor roles and had a small part in Annie Hall. This relative unfamiliarity with the audience worked in her favor, as her character benefited from our lack of preconceived notions. When we looked at Ellen Ripley, we didn't see a Hollywood superstar putting on an act. Instead, we witnessed a portrayal of a woman protagonist who was not simply a token idea forced into the narrative but a genuine hero who happened to be a woman. This portrayal made her incredibly admirable. Ripley wasn't a character who could "kick ass pretty well for a girl." No, she was a character who simply kicked ass.

Ridley Scott Wanted To Kill Ellen Ripley at the End of 'Alien'

Image via 20th Century Fox

Ellen Ripley, the fierce alien-fighting warrior, achieved her status as a cinematic icon against all odds. In the original ending of the first Alien movie, Ripley emerges as the sole survivor in the final act, accompanied only by the ship's cat, Jones. Determined to escape the doomed Nostromo, she sets the ship to self-destruct before fleeing in a smaller shuttle. As the Nostromo explodes and the alien is supposedly defeated, Ripley prepares for hypersleep, unaware that the creature has cunningly stowed away on her vessel. Realizing she must confront the alien once more, Ripley opens an airlock, causing the beast to be sucked out into space. With quick precision, she fires a harpoon into its chest, ultimately incinerating it with the shuttle's engines. This time, the alien is truly dead, and Ripley survives to fight another day. However, Ridley Scott, the director, had a different vision for the ending. In a 2017 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Scott revealed his original, never-filmed concept. He believed the Nostromo's destruction and Ripley's escape were lackluster conclusions. Instead, his envisioned ending depicted Ripley discovering the alien on board the shuttle. In a chilling twist, as Ripley attempted to dispatch the creature, it would overpower her, delivering a fatal blow by ripping off her head. The scene would then transition to the alien imitating the voice of Tom Skerritt's character, stating, "I'm signing off," while assuming control of the controls. When Scott pitched this ending to the studio, they reacted with immediate hostility, threatening to terminate his employment. Ultimately, they chose to spare Ripley, a decision Scott agreed was wise. He acknowledged that while his proposed ending would have been similar to Alfred Hitchcock's style, preserving Ripley's survival was the better choice.

Talk about a plot twist! Imagine yourself fully engaged in the suspenseful and thrilling movie Alien, only to witness the unexpected demise of the protagonist whom you have been following and supporting throughout the entire film. This shocking turn of events would have undoubtedly transformed what was once an exhilarating and enjoyable experience into a profoundly melancholic and arduous one to revisit.

A World Without Ellen Ripley Would Have Been Disappointing

Usually, when you hear stories about the conflicts between movie directors and studio executives, it's often because the studio misunderstands the film and demands actions that contradict its central theme. Consequently, passionate directors find themselves in a battle defending their artistic vision against uninformed individuals in suits. Ridley Scott, a renowned director, has delivered remarkable films such as Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, and Gladiator. However, in this particular case, the studio's stance was justified, and the director was mistaken. While the studio may have been considering potential sequels and financial losses, killing off the character Ripley would have been a monumental blunder.

If Ripley had died at the conclusion of Alien, then the entire film, if one could bear to watch it again, would revolve solely around the monster rather than the hero. Ripley would have simply been another victim, albeit one who managed to survive longer. There would be no satisfying resolution, only disheartening disappointment. Consider, for instance, if at the end of the original Halloween, after Laurie Strode endured so much, Michael Myers simply stabbed her to death. What purpose would that have served?

The Alien Sequel Emphasize Ellen Ripley's Importance

Image via 20th Century Fox

The studio's vision of sequels made Ellen Ripley's existence all the more crucial. James Cameron's 1986 film, Aliens, surpassed its predecessor, Alien, becoming an epic blockbuster action movie. Ripley, armed with a flamethrower and delivering iconic lines like "Get away from her, you bitch!," transformed into not just a horror icon, but also an action star alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. She became the cinematic hero that women admired, refusing to cower, cry, or be objectified. Although sequels to Alien could have been made without Ripley, it wouldn't have been the same. Ripley was the reason audiences were captivated. Despite the flaws in Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection, they still hold our attention because of Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of Ripley. The twist was that the studio, usually seen as the antagonist, saved the film by preserving the hero. The trajectory of cinematic history would have been vastly different had Ripley's character not continued on.

Unfortunately, the character's journey came to an end after Alien: Resurrection. Sigourney Weaver, who had hoped to reprise her role as Ripley in a sequel directed by Neil Blomkamp, ultimately gave up, stating in an interview with Total Film earlier this year that she was ready to move on from playing Ripley. However, fans of the xenomorphs still have much to look forward to. From the highly anticipated Alien vs. Predator, now available for streaming on Hulu, to Alien vs. Predator: Requiem and the unexpected return of Ridley Scott as director for Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, the franchise continues to captivate audiences. And in 2024, Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez, is set to be released. While we eagerly anticipate the future of the franchise, it will never be quite the same without the iconic Ellen Ripley. Don't miss the chance to watch Alien on Hulu in the U.S.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have grown up watching and appreciating the Alien franchise, and I have always been fascinated by the character of Ellen Ripley. She is a strong, resourceful, and courageous woman who has faced and overcome some of the most terrifying creatures in the universe. I admire her determination and her ability to never give up, even when all seems lost.

I believe that the decision to keep Ripley alive in the original Alien film was a wise one. Her survival not only enhanced the film but also paved the way for future installments in the franchise. Ripley's character development over the course of the series is compelling, and she has become one of the most iconic female heroes in cinematic history.

I am grateful that Ridley Scott decided to change his original plan and keep Ripley alive. Her character has inspired me and many others, and I am excited to see what the future holds for her in the Alien franchise.