ALIEN: COVENANT Casts Katherine Waterston In The Lead Role Of 'Daniels'
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In some of her photos she looks kind of like of Sigourney don't you think...
To me, she looks like Amanda Ripley in Alien Isolation.
Hmm, curious to see how she pulls off the Ripley esque strong female character of Daniels, still concerned if her character is to over shadow replace Shaw's role as central protagonist.
I just really hope they don't pull off some contrived twist that she's related to Ellen Ripley. Not only is an inclusion like that so incredibly forced, comes off as a desperate attempt to connect the film to the series's popular recognizable character.
But also the insurmountable odds that Ripley as well as a distant relation coincidentally whined up in the same situation of encountering xeno.
It was a stretch that Ripley's daughter Amanda Ripley was to be the central character in Alien Isolation, though the game its was decent that it appears to have been given a pass. Though I wonder how Amanda makes it out of her predicament at the end of the game as we see in the cliff hanger. They'll either resolve it in a sequel game, or just not. Wonder how that connects to Amanda's fate where she lives out the rest of her life dies at old age, as told be Burke to Ripley in the Aliens special edition.
Quote from: XENOMORPHOSIS on Dec 18, 2015, 11:27:14 AM
It was a stretch that Ripley's daughter Amanda Ripley was to be the central character in Alien Isolation, though the game its was decent that it appears to have been given a pass.
When it was first announced I thought it would be incredibly contrived. It turned out to not be the case.
I have the same fear for if Daniels ends up being related to Ripley.
And in case anyone else was having vague memories of the name Daniels being related to Ripley previously, one of the comics (Earth Angels, terrible comic) has a Daniel Ripley encountering the Aliens.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 18, 2015, 07:31:17 AMIn some of her photos she looks kind of like of Sigourney don't you think...
More like Shailene Woodley, especially the image at the top of this thread.
Quote from: XENOMORPHOSIS on Dec 18, 2015, 11:27:14 AMIt was a stretch that Ripley's daughter Amanda Ripley was to be the central character in Alien Isolation, though the game its was decent that it appears to have been given a pass.
How is it a stretch? She's looking for her mum. There's literally no better reason for Amanda to get involved than that. I was worried it
would be a stretch when they announced she was in it, but in the end it made complete sense for her to be the central character.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 18, 2015, 11:57:51 AMI have the same fear for if Daniels ends up being related to Ripley.
I really hope not. It worked once in
Isolation, it would be a stretch to use it twice. I hope Ridley didn't see the reception it got in the game and think that it suddenly seems like a great idea to stick in more relatives.
What if Ridley ignored Isolation? I don't know how he feels about video games, but he could possibly take the concept of Amanda from AI and inject it into Covenant via this Daniels character.
But I think we may be jumping the gun a bit with this, haha.
Quote from: PsyKore on Dec 18, 2015, 12:12:16 PMWhat if Ridley ignored Isolation? I don't know how he feels about video games, but he could possibly take the concept of Amanda from AI and inject it into Covenant via this Daniels character.
Considering these films will "lead in" to the original
Alien, this has to be taking place before Ellen goes missing.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 18, 2015, 12:13:16 PM
Quote from: PsyKore on Dec 18, 2015, 12:12:16 PMWhat if Ridley ignored Isolation? I don't know how he feels about video games, but he could possibly take the concept of Amanda from AI and inject it into Covenant via this Daniels character.
Considering these films will "lead in" to the original Alien, this has to be taking place before Ellen goes missing.
Ah yes, I stupidly forgot that. I must be tired, haha.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 18, 2015, 12:06:40 PM
How is it a stretch? She's looking for her mum. There's literally no better reason for Amanda to get involved than that. I was worried it would be a stretch when they announced she was in it, but in the end it made complete sense for her to be the central character.
Exactly. What they did with her inclusion and the plot made complete sense and dispelled any worry I had about it being ridiculous.
Quote from: PsyKore on Dec 18, 2015, 12:12:16 PM
What if Ridley ignored Isolation? I don't know how he feels about video games, but he could possibly take the concept of Amanda from AI and inject it into Covenant via this Daniels character.
But I think we may be jumping the gun a bit with this, haha.
He very probably will. There hasn't been any indication he's played anything much in the way of computer games, let alone that one.
For me, '
Isolation' is at odds with canon (both in terms of Amanda's inclusion and the way the Alien can be avoided). It's a nice little 'what if' and very beautifully presented, but I can't find it within me to care about it being discarded from the official continuity. A part of me even hopes it is.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 18, 2015, 07:31:17 AM
In some of her photos she looks kind of like of Sigourney don't you think...
It depends on her facial expression. She looks like Carly Rae Jepsen when she smiles. She looks like Leelee Sobieski when she laughs. She looks like Dorothy Kilgallen when she looks serious.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 18, 2015, 12:06:40 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 18, 2015, 07:31:17 AMIn some of her photos she looks kind of like of Sigourney don't you think...
More like Shailene Woodley, especially the image at the top of this thread.
Quote from: XENOMORPHOSIS on Dec 18, 2015, 11:27:14 AMIt was a stretch that Ripley's daughter Amanda Ripley was to be the central character in Alien Isolation, though the game its was decent that it appears to have been given a pass.
How is it a stretch? She's looking for her mum. There's literally no better reason for Amanda to get involved than that. I was worried it would be a stretch when they announced she was in it, but in the end it made complete sense for her to be the central character.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 18, 2015, 11:57:51 AMI have the same fear for if Daniels ends up being related to Ripley.
I really hope not. It worked once in Isolation, it would be a stretch to use it twice. I hope Ridley didn't see the reception it got in the game and think that it suddenly seems like a great idea to stick in more relatives.
Forgive me I was merely referring to my initial reaction when I heard Ripley's daughter was put in the game feeling it was stretch putting a character who's not The Ellen Ripley but Amanda Ripley being put in that identical situation. But it worked in the end because of her goal of trying to search for her long lost mother was integral to the game's plot as you so put it. Didn't feel forced. Sorry I should have emphasized more on how our concerns of it being a stretched were thankfully proven wrong.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 18, 2015, 12:39:01 PM
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 18, 2015, 12:06:40 PM
How is it a stretch? She's looking for her mum. There's literally no better reason for Amanda to get involved than that. I was worried it would be a stretch when they announced she was in it, but in the end it made complete sense for her to be the central character.
Exactly. What they did with her inclusion and the plot made complete sense and dispelled any worry I had about it being ridiculous.
True, Amanda being in the game was justified owing to her goal of searching for her Mum. I was merely referring to the initial reaction we had that Ripley's daughter Amanda whom's only mention in the Aliens special edition. But she had a reason that for being in the game and it wasn't forced. I should have emphasized more on how our concerns were proven wrong.
Don't know if that's the intent but she could pass for Sigourney with a different hairstyle.
I'm really not seeing Sigourney in her.
I don't want another Sigourney or Ripley clone. I wish they'd just write a character rather than switching templates around.
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 18, 2015, 03:25:45 PM
I don't want another Sigourney or Ripley clone. I wish they'd just write a character rather than switching templates around.
I don't think there's a single one of us who would want to see another Sigourney or Ripley character. It'll be really nice if Daniels is her own character and not intended to harken back to Ripley.
I really don't see how Amanda Ripley was a stretch. Her mother goes missing on a WY mission. 15 years later the company notifies Amanda and let's her go to retrieve the flight recorder. Why is that so hard to believe? I suppose the WY legal team's decision making might be in question considering the potential for a lawsuit.
Yeah, I guess she doesn't look like Ripley that much...
Oops, just saw the follow up. I think for general audiences it would work, just not for us fans that gobble up everything related to the franchise.
Good actress. Very good in Inherent Vice.
Quote from: razeak on Dec 18, 2015, 04:20:35 PM
I really don't see how Amanda Ripley was a stretch. Her mother goes missing on a WY mission. 15 years later the company notifies Amanda and let's her go to retrieve the flight recorder. Why is that so hard to believe? I suppose the WY legal team's decision making might be in question considering the potential for a lawsuit.
When it was announced she'd be in it we didn't know that.
Not an actress I've heard of, so I'd be very interested t see how she does
I couldn't really care less about this movie at this point
Mr. Fassbender was great as Steve Jobs. That was really interesting. Ms. Waterston played an ex-girlfriend of his, who claimed she fathered her child. They had some arguments about financial support, and so on, and it should make for very good chemistry in Alien: Covenant.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 18, 2015, 03:09:50 PM
I'm really not seeing Sigourney in her.
Yeah, she's got more of a Mila Kunis thing going on...
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Dec 18, 2015, 01:36:07 PM
Quote from: PsyKore on Dec 18, 2015, 12:12:16 PM
What if Ridley ignored Isolation? I don't know how he feels about video games, but he could possibly take the concept of Amanda from AI and inject it into Covenant via this Daniels character.
But I think we may be jumping the gun a bit with this, haha.
He very probably will. There hasn't been any indication he's played anything much in the way of computer games, let alone that one.
For me, 'Isolation' is at odds with canon (both in terms of Amanda's inclusion and the way the Alien can be avoided). It's a nice little 'what if' and very beautifully presented, but I can't find it within me to care about it being discarded from the official continuity. A part of me even hopes it is.
I agree. I actually don't understand the latest trend to fit video games into canon.
Another tough/cute brunette. I think it's safe to say what Ridley's type is, at this stage.
Quote from: PsyKore on Dec 19, 2015, 05:39:29 AMI agree. I actually don't understand the latest trend to fit video games into canon.
I just think it's nice when franchise filmmakers refrain from trampling all over games if they don't have too, especially if they were well-received additions to the franchise. Don't need to acknowledge them, but similarly you don't need to go out of your way to contradict them.
I would assume she plays a role of a character who doesn't live for all that long in the movie
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Dec 19, 2015, 03:13:24 PM
I would assume she plays a role of a character who doesn't live for all that long in the movie
She's been cast as lead apparently, if she is the lead she won't be dying till the end.
Quote from: hfeldhaus on Dec 20, 2015, 10:14:50 PM
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Dec 19, 2015, 03:13:24 PM
I would assume she plays a role of a character who doesn't live for all that long in the movie
She's been cast as lead apparently, if she is the lead she won't be dying till the end.
Well, there are all these words coming from somewhere but I just really need to see something a bit more concrete about this role she's in. I don't mean to be rude but do I really have to see her face all the way to the end?
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Dec 21, 2015, 12:26:39 AM
Quote from: hfeldhaus on Dec 20, 2015, 10:14:50 PM
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Dec 19, 2015, 03:13:24 PM
I would assume she plays a role of a character who doesn't live for all that long in the movie
She's been cast as lead apparently, if she is the lead she won't be dying till the end.
Well, there are all these words coming from somewhere but I just really need to see something a bit more concrete about this role she's in. I don't mean to be rude but do I really have to see her face all the way to the end?
As long as her performance is up to it. I never thought Sigourney Weaver was good looking but that didn't matter. Noomi Rapace has divisive looks as well.
This man says otherwise.
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Nope. There's no guarantee the lead actor will make it to the end of a Ridley Scott 'ALIEN' movie. ...or even close to the end.
-Windebieste.
Skerrit was big then, Waterston isn't. She's not a big name so knocking her off wouldn't be a shock moment.
Doesn't change a single thing.
-Windebieste.
Gotta side with Winebieste on this.
Quote from: NickisSmart on Dec 19, 2015, 08:03:01 AM
Another tough/cute brunette. I think it's safe to say what Ridley's type is, at this stage.
Not only that, it think it becomes incredibly boring and predictable for the Alien-related movies to cast yet another Ripley. I know, we havent seen anything of her or know anything about the character, but come on, this is getting so tiring now.
It's a bit of a staple of the franchise. Doesn't mean they have to be the same kind of character though - and I'd be very pleased to see it not be. I'd rather not have another Ripley-lite.
While I don't know enough about Waterston or her character to really comment on how appropriate it all is, part of me does think it would be nice to have an Alien film with a male lead. Literally every one has had a female star, why not mix it up?
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 21, 2015, 08:44:13 AM
While I don't know enough about Waterston or her character to really comment on how appropriate it all is, part of me does think it would be nice to have an Alien film with a male lead. Literally every one has had a female star, why not mix it up?
It'd be a nice twist on the head as far as Alien is concerned to have it - perhaps have 2 leads and then have the male survive instead. Regardless though, as long as the lead is actually well written I don't really mind what gender it is. I just want a decent character.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 21, 2015, 08:44:13 AM
While I don't know enough about Waterston or her character to really comment on how appropriate it all is, part of me does think it would be nice to have an Alien film with a male lead. Literally every one has had a female star, why not mix it up?
Make it an even bigger twist by casting a black male lead. No black man has ever survived an Alien flick before, it will be quite a surprise! :laugh:
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 21, 2015, 08:48:25 AM
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 21, 2015, 08:44:13 AM
While I don't know enough about Waterston or her character to really comment on how appropriate it all is, part of me does think it would be nice to have an Alien film with a male lead. Literally every one has had a female star, why not mix it up?
It'd be a nice twist on the head as far as Alien is concerned to have it - perhaps have 2 leads and then have the male survive instead. Regardless though, as long as the lead is actually well written I don't really mind what gender it is. I just want a decent character.
The only way a male lead will survive over a female character in an Alien film is if he is James Bond.
Quote from: windebieste on Dec 21, 2015, 06:04:45 AM
Doesn't change a single thing.
-Windebieste.
Well if Alien and Prometheus are anything to go by the lead female character will be there to the end. None of it matters really.
...and 'AvP', too.
If anything, it's become somewhat a cliche now. Even the last video game, Amanda Ripley was the sole survivor of her encounters with Stompy.
It wouldn't surprise me if Scott decides that this is a trope that needs to be broken. Just like he deliberately broke the 'lived in and used' design philosophies of 'ALIEN' and 'Blade Runner' to adopt a much cleaner and modern aesthetic for 'Prometheus' simply because he'd done it before.
We'll see. I'm not confident that we'll see any lead make it to the end of 'ALIEN: Covenant'; and certainly not convinced they will make it to the end of a trilogy. Scott has very different ideas to what we expect - and he has been known to throw more than one red herring at the audience. That's for sure.
-Windebieste.
As much as I'd like to see a break from tradition, I can't help but feel that woman vs. alien just works better than man vs. alien would. It's a more interesting dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for endless Ripley clones (no pun intended), but a female protagonist just puts me in a different (and better) headspace than a male one would.
Quote from: Mr. Clemens on Dec 23, 2015, 12:20:59 AM
As much as I'd like to see a break from tradition, I can't help but feel that woman vs. alien just works better than man vs. alien would. It's a more interesting dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for endless Ripley clones (no pun intended), but a female protagonist just puts me in a different (and better) headspace than a male one would.
Good point. It seems kind of hokey for a guy to fight a phallic monster..
Quote from: Mr. Clemens on Dec 23, 2015, 12:20:59 AM
As much as I'd like to see a break from tradition, I can't help but feel that woman vs. alien just works better than man vs. alien would. It's a more interesting dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for endless Ripley clones (no pun intended), but a female protagonist just puts me in a different (and better) headspace than a male one would.
Why? Because women are more
sensitive than men? Because women are more
maternal than men? Women are more
innocent than men? Women are more
vulnerable than men? What makes you just assume that a female dynamic would be more
interesting than a male one?
Yeah, let's not even entertain the idea that a male lead
could be just as good if not better than a female one. There should no discernible difference in dynamic between a female and alien than a male and alien because guess what? Men and women are both humans. If the whole series had used male leads up to this point, you can bet your ass that the series would be getting shit for not having a female lead, but let's not even consider having a male one because you opine that it just
works better, despite the fact that a male has
never been given a chance of a lead role.
It's not sexist or anything to just
assume that a woman would be more fit for the role of lead actor in an Alien movie than a man despite the fact that no man has ever been given that role before.
Spoiler
Oh wait, yes it is.
Quote from: Mr. Clemens on Dec 23, 2015, 12:20:59 AMAs much as I'd like to see a break from tradition, I can't help but feel that woman vs. alien just works better than man vs. alien would.
I don't see why. A man getting skull-f*cked by an alien penis tongue is no more or less disturbing than having it happen to a woman.
I honestly think switching it up and going with a male lead might be a great thing for the series, if only to dispel the usual Ripley comparisons we inevitably get
every time they cast yet another female lead.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 23, 2015, 08:49:57 AM
Quote from: Mr. Clemens on Dec 23, 2015, 12:20:59 AMAs much as I'd like to see a break from tradition, I can't help but feel that woman vs. alien just works better than man vs. alien would.
I don't see why. A man getting skull-f*cked by an alien penis tongue is no more or less disturbing than having it happen to a woman.
I honestly think switching it up and going with a male lead might be a great thing for the series, if only to dispel the usual Ripley comparisons we inevitably get every time they cast yet another female lead.
An interesting compromise would be to have a male android as the lead...
Quote from: Olde on Dec 23, 2015, 04:38:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Clemens on Dec 23, 2015, 12:20:59 AM
As much as I'd like to see a break from tradition, I can't help but feel that woman vs. alien just works better than man vs. alien would. It's a more interesting dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for endless Ripley clones (no pun intended), but a female protagonist just puts me in a different (and better) headspace than a male one would.
Why? Because women are more sensitive than men? Because women are more maternal than men? Women are more innocent than men? Women are more vulnerable than men? What makes you just assume that a female dynamic would be more interesting than a male one?
Yeah, let's not even entertain the idea that a male lead could be just as good if not better than a female one. There should no discernible difference in dynamic between a female and alien than a male and alien because guess what? Men and women are both humans. If the whole series had used male leads up to this point, you can bet your ass that the series would be getting shit for not having a female lead, but let's not even consider having a male one because you opine that it just works better, despite the fact that a male has never been given a chance of a lead role.
It's not sexist or anything to just assume that a woman would be more fit for the role of lead actor in an Alien movie than a man despite the fact that no man has ever been given that role before.
Spoiler
Oh wait, yes it is.
Wow... whole lotta hate coming off of you, there.
Anyway, I've said it's how
I feel. Having a woman as the viewpoint character just puts me in a different headspace than would a man. You don't feel that way. I think you've proved that you and I are two different people! ;D
Quote from: Olde on Dec 23, 2015, 04:38:08 AM
Quote from: Mr. Clemens on Dec 23, 2015, 12:20:59 AM
As much as I'd like to see a break from tradition, I can't help but feel that woman vs. alien just works better than man vs. alien would. It's a more interesting dynamic. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for endless Ripley clones (no pun intended), but a female protagonist just puts me in a different (and better) headspace than a male one would.
Why? Because women are more sensitive than men? Because women are more maternal than men? Women are more innocent than men? Women are more vulnerable than men? What makes you just assume that a female dynamic would be more interesting than a male one?
Yeah, let's not even entertain the idea that a male lead could be just as good if not better than a female one. There should no discernible difference in dynamic between a female and alien than a male and alien because guess what? Men and women are both humans. If the whole series had used male leads up to this point, you can bet your ass that the series would be getting shit for not having a female lead, but let's not even consider having a male one because you opine that it just works better, despite the fact that a male has never been given a chance of a lead role.
It's not sexist or anything to just assume that a woman would be more fit for the role of lead actor in an Alien movie than a man despite the fact that no man has ever been given that role before.
Spoiler
Oh wait, yes it is.
You know coming in and flaming people like this makes it impossible to have a normal, civilized conversation. Lighten up.
You know what, she does look a lot like Amanda Ripley from Isolation, even though I don't think that's who she'll be. Still, Ridley did tease a link to Rips, but I doubt it has anything to do with Daniels, that'd be far too on the nose. Haven't seen Waterston in anything apart from Inherent Vice, but heard she was quite good in Steve Jobs. I really hope they go with the original classic space suits from the original, I'm imagining Waterston in the classic helmet; I think she'll look great in it.
The reason I think a female protagonist, or an android protagonist, works so well in a Alien movie has to do with the actual monster, just like I find male protagonists more fitting in a Predator movie. It doesn't have to do with any kind of sexism and gender limits; I'm not saying that either gender, for some reason, is more fit and able to fight the Alien rather than the Predator and vice versa. It's more on a theoretical, philosophical, mythological and archetypical level. It has more to do with perceived femininity, masculinity, androgyny and amorphism.
The Alien is usually referred to as a she or it, whereas the Predator usually is referred to as a he. The Alien represents a nightmarish & amorphous femininity, and mechanical psychosexuality - it's fleshy and mechanic at the same time, it has no ego, it has no feelings or emotions yet it breeds. It's intrusive and invasive. It wants your body to propagate. It's a bringer of life.
The Predator represents beast-like & exaggerated masculinity, and organic asexuality - it's muscular and polished at the same time, it has a big ego, it has feelings and emotions but is figuratively unable to breed. It's unreachable and exclusive. It wants your body for a trophy. It's a bringer of death.
The Predator is a purely masculine, asexual and egocentric killer whereas the Alien is an amorphously androgynous, psychosexual and egoless breeder. One is a polished Greek god from hell, the other is a representation of Mother Earth in the most nightmarish kind of way. They represent two different archetypes.
This is alluring, at least to me, as you're pitting a human archetype against its monstrous counterpart. It turns into a nemesis fight. It represents the endless struggle. David vs. Goliath. So when the protagonist in an Alien movie is either a woman or an android, it works as the underdog equivalent to the Alien, just like a male protagonist in a Predator movie works as the underdog equivalent to the Predator. If you switch the two you theoretically and archetypically get a different dynamic.
A female main protagonist in a Predator movie would technically bring an underlying feminist and anti-patriarcal discourse and dimension to the movie. Revolution against authority.
A male main protagonist in an Alien movie on the other hand would bring an underlying struggle for familiarity and traditional hegemony to the table. Man versus Mother Nature.
Ok... SUPER PRETENTIOUS, I know, but that's my mumbo-jumbo wannabe schoolar analysis on why I rather have female (or android) main-characters in Alien movies and male main characters in Predator movies. With that said, I'm absolutely sure we can break the mold and have excellent male main-characters in Alien movies and vice versa.
What if Brett (Stanton) or Burke (Reiser) or even David (Postlethwaite) were the sole survivors in any of their respective movies? They're all male, but fall outside of any macho or heroic stereotype and they deserved to survive as anyone. Neither of these actors are known for slinging chain-guns across their shoulders and mowing down antagonists. I don't think it's a gender issue - I think it's a character issue. Throw a decently realised and fully developed Male character into the role of Ripley and it should be just as valid. All the roles in the movie were initially interchangeable when they were cast, anyway.
I'll agree it was a great choice to have Ripley be a women for the shock value of being the sole survivor at the end of 'ALIEN' but the audience has moved on since 1979. As it stands right now, the whole 'strong-willed' woman as survivor is as cliched as this series can get. It's no surprise Lexa Woods survived the pyramid. It's nothing new that Amanda Ripley escaped Sevastopol. It was no surprise that Shaw... well, you get what I mean. What if Lambert, a character that audiences could more readily relate to had escaped aboard the Narcissus instead of Ripley?
I honestly believe that this female character template has been getting tired now for some time and is due for a change. One of the great things about the first movie is how normal people going about their daily working lives were forced to cope with an extraordinary situation. I would like to see a return to that premise where the survivor(s) were no longer predictable.
Isn't that the point of these movies in the first place? There's no reason why it couldn't be a man or a woman... and now that I think of it, someone more highly strung like Lambert, desperately escaping would be quite the change this series needs.
-Windebieste.
It's called the Final Girl trope for a reason. It's been done to death in horror films for decades. Go watch Psycho, where Marion Crane buys the farm halfway through the flick. Lovely twist, and I wish more movies play with audience expectations like that. Even something like Deep Blue Sea, which, while not a great film, still has fun with the way it treats its characters in semi-unpredictable ways. Though, in that one, the obvious choice for the protagonist/anti-hero lives to the end, and the ol' Chekhov's Gun bit early on. Like Top Dollar said, "It's all been done before, see what I'm sayin'."
In my opinion, Alien: Isolation proved that the Final Girl trope worked fairly well, though it was a given that you'd probably make it to the end of the game (though something that isn't always the case, like in Red Dead: Redemption) as the main protagonist. And the characters that you meet along the way usually all die horrible deaths. That's kind of a given with this series. Just about everyone dies. I think it'd be interesting if the alien won, for a change. What if everyone died at the end of the film except the alien, like in Ridley's original ending? Maybe not the parts where it talks, but still. I love bad endings in horror films and the survivors are always surviving. I want an Alien film where the alien wins and all the humans die.
Quote from: NickisSmart on Dec 24, 2015, 12:48:25 PM
What if everyone died at the end of the film except the alien, like in Ridley's original ending? Maybe not the parts where it talks, but still. I love bad endings in horror films and the survivors are always surviving. I want an Alien film where the alien wins and all the humans die.
Yes please. That would be really refreshing. A3 kind of broke the mold, and in a very original and unique way, so why not go all in in one of the coming Alien movies? Would be kind of funny if they did it in A5 after pretty much resurrecting Hicks, Newt and Ripley and then just have them all killed by the end of the movie 8)
As long as it's done in a noble and dignified way and getting 'the ending they deserve', then I guess Ripley and Hicks dying yet again would be acceptable to some fans.
...or to put it another way...
Oh the Stupid, it BURNS!
If we were to see Morse return in 'ALIEN 5' instead, now, that would be great! Bring back that argumentative prick. He'd make a Great anti-hero. Actually, yeah. As much as I love Ripley and Hicks I'd trade 'em both in for Morse.
Let's hear it from the man himself. Waddya think, Morse? I asked him and this is what he said about 'ALIEN5 ', "We ain't got no entertainment center, no climate control, no video system, no surveillance, no freezers, no f**king ice cream, no rubbers, no Ripley, no Hicks. All we got here is shit!"
-Windebieste.
If it were a human buffet, I'd prefer new characters. Fresh characters. Like Daisy Ridley's Rey in the new Star Wars. It'd be fun to see if the film makers could get us to care about the character(s) in question before killing them off before the movie ends. It worked in Terminator 1, with Kyle Reese. It worked in Alien, with Parker and Brett. All they have to do is make it happen to the protagonist for something a little different. Though Alien was essentially a huge experiment in its own right, designed to defy audience expectations. Hell, watching the first film on its own, it's hard to tell who the hero is going to be. Ripley could have gone into the vents instead of Dallas, for instance. The first film is my favorite because there's no central, heroic character, really. The alien could have just as easily killed Ripley at any point in the film. All the crew were equally vulnerable. No one was safe.
Quote from: windebieste on Dec 25, 2015, 02:32:14 AM
If we were to see Morse return in 'ALIEN 5' instead, now, that would be great! Bring back that argumentative prick. He'd make a Great anti-hero. Actually, yeah. As much as I love Ripley and Hicks I'd trade 'em both in for Morse.
Let's hear it from the man himself. Waddya think, Morse? I asked him and this is what he said about 'ALIEN5 ', "We ain't got no entertainment center, no climate control, no video system, no surveillance, no freezers, no f**king ice cream, no rubbers, no Ripley, no Hicks. All we got here is shit!"
-Windebieste.
Funnily enough, Danny Webb was at one point rumoured to star in Alien: Covenant back when it was still titled Prometheus 2. Not sure where the rumour originally came from but IMDb had him listed among the cast as well.
Quote from: Franchise HeraldSo far, "Prometheus 2" official returning cast members include only Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender. Danny Webb who appeared as Morse in the 1992 "Alien 3" film is rumored to return, but no official news on the matter has been released. Jan 5, 2015
I think returning actors usually kills it for me, in sequels. Not always. I can't imagine anyone other than Bruce Campbell playing Ash, for instance, or Judy Garland playing Dorothy. However, the idea where you have a returning character that continually makes it out alive and has adventure after adventure is kind of a tension-killer because it reminds the audience that said character is not going to die, is an integral part of the series. And when you build the series around the character, it can't exactly function without him or her, either. It feels like a design flaw as far as I'm concerned. And actors age, unfortunately. Arnold can't keep playing Conan. Daniel Craig won't be able to do Bond, forever. Sigourney can't do Ripley much longer.
Granted, in Alien, the characters were older, or appeared older than average--always a plus when defying expectations for the so-called pro-slasher film demographic. Sometimes in order for a film to work, you have to get the audience to think it's going to be one thing and then pleasantly (or not so pleasantly) surprise them.
The point is, young talent for the latest film is going to be inevitable. The fact that she's a pretty girl is just Hollywood, is just someone being cast based on her appearance. That's nothing new. Though I'm praying for the entire crew being expendable, including Ms. What's-her-face. She can come from good stock, but unless she's an executive officer on a fancy-ass ship, I'd like to think make-up and nice clothes should be secondary to the reality of essentially being a space trucker.
But look at me, getting ahead of myself. Is this going to be a retread of Alien, with space truckers being used to advance nefarious corporate agendas? Or is it going to be something a little different. Personally I love the "haunted house in space" approach. Gothic Horror is where this series excels. But there was so much good going for Alien based on some really ingenious tweaks to the formula while at the same time never losing what makes good science fiction/and horror each of those things respectively. It stayed grounded, but got clever, in spots, and defied audience expectations, and really was an artistic Renaissance for the genre that still resonates today. I hate to sound cynical but expecting that this time around when Ridley is completely in charge seems less likely. Though you never know.