Alien Resurrection

Lore & Background

The film was produced at 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles, California. The studio initially imagined the film would center on a clone of the character Newt from Aliens, but later decided to base the story on a clone of Ripley. The idea of cloning was suggested by producers David Giler and Walter Hill, who opposed the production. Sigourney Weaver received a co-producer credit and was reportedly paid $11 million. Joss Whedon wrote five versions of the final act, none of which ended up in the film. Danny Boyle and Peter Jackson were approached to direct but declined.

Reader's Guide

Alien Resurrection is notable as the least commercially successful Alien film in the United States and Canada, grossing $47.8 million there and $161 million worldwide. It received mixed reviews, with critics criticizing the screenplay but praising Weaver's performance and Jeunet's direction. The film was nominated for six Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Actress for Weaver, Best Supporting Actress for Ryder, and Best Direction for Jeunet. A sequel was planned, with Whedon writing an earth-set script for Alien 5, but Weaver was not interested in that setting. More sequels were abandoned as the crossover series arrived with Alien vs. Predator (2004) and the prequel series including Prometheus (2012). The storylines of Resurrection have been continued in the comic series Aliens versus Predator versus The Terminator and books Aliens: Original Sin and Alien: Sea of Sorrows.

Did You Know?

• The film is set 200 years after the events of Alien 3.
• The clone Ripley 8 possesses enhanced strength, acidic blood, and a psychic link with Xenomorphs due to combined DNA.
• The film's screenplay was written by Joss Whedon, who wrote five versions of the final act that were not used.
• The film grossed $47.8 million in the United States and Canada, making it the least successful Alien film in that market.