In a recent interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Sir Ridley Scott talked about the test screenings for Alien: Covenant and revealed that he’d trimmed about 20 minutes from his initial edit of the film.
“Ridley Scott: The only reason I take my hat off occasionally to screenings is you think you know everything, but you know you don’t. Something inordinately simple you’ve assumed everyone understands and they don’t. That’s the key thing, isn’t it? You know when it’s a bit too long. And also, if you’re a bit too long you then ask “Right speed? Too slow? Too fast?” If they go “no, too fast” you go “shit, I’ve got to slow down” – because as you edit, you can get weary and want to cut, cut, cut.
Collider: Oh, so were there a lot of deleted scenes?
Ridley Scott: No.
Michael Fassbender: I don’t think so.
Ridley Scott: I always come out at almost 2:23 first cut. Look at it, and go “I’ve got to get to two hours”.
That may not have been entire scenes though. Some of that may have been simple trimming. We’ve already taken note of some sequences missing from the trailers (which in all fairness is pretty standard) but we’ve also had the benefit of knowing of other sequences that were removed from the test screenings. Along with the recently released novelization, we’ve been working on a deleted scenes page for Alien: Covenant. We’ll have that up for your reading pleasure soon!
Will we be seeing an extended release of Alien: Covenant when it finally hits home release? Is that something you would be interested in seeing? Thanks to echobbase79 for the news.
Keep a close eye on Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest on Alien: Covenant! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the latest on your social media walls. You can also join in with fellow Alien fans on our forums!
I had almost no problems with 3rd act and I think the Covenant's pacing was a deliberate attempt to distance itself from Prometheus's pacing. And the film - to me - had a superb flow.
yes, i really hope so, the pacing of the movie is a little rushed, just like in Prometheus, you can tell stuff was cut
This is not those movies (and I don't even like Heaven's Gate much, though it is visually incredible).
The problem with an Extended Cut is that it doesn't reach the same audience as a cinema does. Extended Cut's sometimes add more scenes that improve (or not) a certain aspect in the movie.
I remember Prometheus had an alternate opening. But I haven't seen any footage of that...
Alien Covenant could use some additions here and there and I'm pretty damn sure alot has been cut.
We'll see.
A sequel is 100% garantueed at this point. Covenant has been made on a relatively low-budget ...
Im all for ambiguity in some places, but not when its for the sake of it
If Fox wants to recoup's its money, they better force Riddles to piece the film back to its original state.
- Release directors cut 6 months later to increase sales.
Also, from the first test screening the same scene was shot, but without the fight between the two beasts.
It go killed in the wheat field. One characters shoots it and say "got it!" It slumps to the floor trying to escape. It's quick, but it's on screen.
Terminator 2 - 102 million - 137 minutes
Gladiator - 103 million - 155 minutes. Non-franchise movie.
American Gangster - 100 million - 158 minutes. Non-franchise movie.
Django Unchained - 100 million - 166 minutes. Non-franchise movie.
The Wolf of Wall Street - 100 million - 179 minutes!. Non-franchise movie.
The Revenant - 135 million - 156 minutes. Non-franchise movie.
Me too. Was looking for 'like' button.
Tough titty. You. Won't get one.
Lame film
We. Want a refund
so do the movies the way you want. dont listen to stupid people you screened it for.
Scott should make extended cuts of BOTH prequels ASAP.
As much as I loved Covenant, even I felt the third act felt rushed. I understand the economic pressure from the studio to get the movie to about 2 hours. However, it then falls to the director and writers, I feel, to craft a story that won't feel rushed in that 2 hours.
A lot of people have complained that outside of Tennessee, Daniels, and Oram, they didn't really get too invested in the other crew members. I've been thinking about that ever since seeing Covenant. I realize that the original Alien was a fairly simple affair, especially when compared to the scope of the other movies. However, the crew of the Nostromo was only 7. Covenant's crew was I think 15, including the original captain and we all know how that turned out. Prometheus was basically the same thing, people all over the place. I know this wouldn't solve all of the problems that people have stated they have with Covenant. However, less people means less time needed to give everyone screen time, which hopefully means a tighter story and much better pacing.
However, they certainly have the footage they need to improve Prometheus and make it a proper masterpiece. If Scott wants to preserve the mystery, cool, but he could at least restore character scenes and give us a more rounded, heroic Shaw. If audiences connected a little more to the characters, the third act would work much better. Principally they just need to restore Janek's drunken monologue. The movie needs his character's decisions to work, and for that to happen, that scene needs to be restored. You can do the same with Milburn, having another scene of him being curious about life forms. His later behavior is easier to understand. These character beats also further reinforce the "humans are victims of their programming" theme.
The next one needs to be 2.5 hours at least. ALIEN worked at 2 hrs because of how minimal the plot was. It was able to take its time. Today ALIEN would be 1.5 hours maximum, because modern audiences complained that COVENANT was too f'in slow.
But that's just one thing. The real reason this film CANNOT BE more than 2 hours is because it R-RATED and has a 100 million dollar budget. I dont think most audiences realize how UNHEARD OF that is. This is the only R-RATED major franchise that commands a budget anyway near that.
It needs to be 2 hours to earn its money back or, like RIDLEY SCOTT says "There wont be a sequel." If it plays 8 x a day at 2 hours, it would only play 6 x a day at 2 hours and 20 min.
This is why the movie feels rushed. FOX would be wise to invest the money in the franchise's shelf life and not worry about the next film making back its money so much as they worry about getting it right.
One more ALIEN Prequel at a 2 hours and 40 min length, would be great. But the only way thats gonna happen is if SCOTT heads towards PG13.
I hope fans start weighing their bitching and moaning against whether they want another film to happen.
Face it - as far as Ridley is concerned, the idea was the sacrificial engineer was the same as the military engineer. Time and clothing aside.
They are engineers, and intended to be the same.
Thats not to say Ridley might not retcon the whole thing in the future, who knows.
They are Engineers. It is confirmed in the 'Art and Making Of Alien:Covenant' book that it is the Engineers homeworld that they land on.
In the novelization there's a scene where Walter plays an original tune on the flute for Daniels that was really good. I hope this was shot because it showed how conflicted Walter was with being an AI.
Explain?
I think when he weaponized those ampules, Shaw was still in a cryotube. Then he did his thing and deliberately crashed the juggernaut into the woods so that it looked like an accident to Shaw.
I was thinking the same thing
Just imagine if the movie was more about the humanoids race & a first contact scenario between David Shaw & the Covenant Crew, Then having the Neomorphs be the only creature. Then have the next film explain how the Humanoids created the Xeno to destroy the Neomorphs only to have them backfire. I don't know. I just felt sad when all those humanoids died. I realy hated David for killing off a entire civilization without no explaination. I think we are going to need another set of Prequels, to explain the humanoids.
Those ones were created that way or born that way on purpose. They are all the same species. We are also never really seeing them again.
Look at the picture I posted. Suits don't mold into your body lol
His body is different than the suit that covers him in the boneship.