Alien II: James Cameron's Original Treatment

Alien Theory・2 minutes read

James Cameron impresses 20th Century Fox with his idea for an Alien sequel, detailing the journey of creating Aliens with his script, treatment, and evolution of the storyline, culminating in the beloved film that showcases his vision and creativity. Cameron's detailed treatment for "ALIEN II" secures the film's production and features significant differences from the final version, providing a glimpse into the early stages of Aliens' development and the intricate world-building that shapes the iconic movie.

Insights

James Cameron impressed 20th Century Fox producers with his Alien sequel idea, introducing multiple Aliens and a lucrative opportunity.
Cameron's detailed knowledge and adaptation of a previous story formed the basis for his 45-page treatment, securing the production of "ALIEN II."
The treatment for Aliens, dated September 21st, 1983, showcases an earlier version with additional scenes, providing fans a glimpse into the film's early development.

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Recent questions

What is the plot of the movie "Aliens"?
The movie follows Ripley's return to a planetoid colony, encountering alien creatures and leading a mission to investigate the lost contact with the settlement.
Who is the main character in "Aliens"?
The main character is Ripley, a survivor from the first film, who faces new challenges involving aliens and military missions.
What is the setting of "Aliens"?
The movie is set on a planetoid colony named Acheron, where Ripley reunites with a military team to confront alien threats and investigate the colony's disappearance.
How does Ripley defeat the Alien Queen?
Ripley engages in a fierce battle with the Alien Queen using a power loader, ultimately sending the creature into space by opening an outer door.
What are the differences between the 1983 treatment and the final film version of "Aliens"?
The treatment includes variations in character names, plot details, and character motivations, such as the absence of Burke, Ripley's daughter's survival, and Ripley's motivation to enter the Alien Hive.

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Summary

00:00

James Cameron's Journey to Creating Aliens

James Cameron, a young truck driver from Canada, impressed 20th Century Fox producers with his idea for an Alien sequel, introducing the concept of multiple Aliens and a lucrative dollar sign.
Cameron's journey to creating Aliens involved years of work, including his time with Roger Corman, his Alien-inspired works like "Xenogenisis," and his script for "The Terminator."
After being unimpressed with a proposed project, Cameron was introduced to the idea of Alien II, which sparked his interest and led to discussions with producers Giler and Hill.
Cameron's detailed knowledge of the Alien franchise and his adaptation of a previous story called "MOTHER" formed the basis for his 45-page treatment for "ALIEN II," which secured the film's production.
The treatment for Aliens, dated September 21st, 1983, was widely available to fans and showcased an earlier version from September 8th, 1983, with additional scenes that were later omitted.
Ripley's return to Earth after 60 years in hypersleep is depicted, including her reunion with her daughter, the discovery of her daughter's aging, and the emotional turmoil that follows.
The ICC Boardroom convenes to investigate Ripley's actions aboard the Nostromo, questioning her account of the Alien encounter and ultimately revoking her commercial license.
Ripley faces financial struggles and technological obsolescence, with most commercial ships now automated, leading to her permanent grounding and a probationary period.
The Board highlights the lack of evidence supporting Ripley's claims of the Alien encounter on the planetoid, casting doubt on her story and further complicating her situation.
The summary provides a glimpse into the early stages of Aliens' development, showcasing the evolution of the story from Cameron's treatment to the final beloved film.

13:10

"Alien: Acheron - Terraforming, Discovery, Survival"

A standard class C mining and "terraforming" colony was established on the planetoid 30 years ago, consisting of 50 families, 10 TRW atmosphere processors, and 1 K-Hull General Product's starship.
The colony on the planetoid, named Acheron, was previously lifeless but has been transformed into a habitable environment with breathable air and expanding settlements.
Hadley's Hope is the name of the colony, characterized by harsh weather conditions and industrial-like structures made of metal and concrete.
The terraforming station on the planetoid resembles a large man-made steel volcano, contributing to warming and oxygenating the atmosphere.
A prospector named Russ Jorden discovers an extraterrestrial ship on the planetoid, leading to a series of events involving his family and the emergence of alien creatures.
The search for Jorden inside the extraterrestrial ship uncovers a fossilized alien in a command seat and a chamber filled with leathery eggs that begin hatching.
Ripley, haunted by nightmares of her past encounter with the Alien, is approached by Dr. O'Niel and Lt. Gorman to join a military team investigating the lost contact with the colony on LV-426.
Ripley initially refuses but eventually agrees to accompany the military team, led by Gorman, to the planetoid with advanced weaponry and a combat team from Gateway Station.
Differences in the 1983 treatment of the story include the absence of the character Burke, the survival of Ripley's daughter Amanda, and various smaller details like the name of the Earth Satellite Station and the nature of Ripley's nightmares.
The 1983 treatment also explores Ripley's relationship with her daughter, Amanda, who is alive in this version and harbors resentment towards her mother for choosing her career over family, contrasting with the emotional impact of the daughter's death in the final film version.

26:04

Aliens: Ripley Joins Marines on Acheron

Hadley's Hope scenes have a new endnote with a shocking discovery of Russ and hatching eggs.
Original sets from Alien were not preserved, necessitating the recreation of familiar locations for Aliens.
The treatment covers 25-30 minutes of the film, aligning well with the envisioned vision.
Ripley joins the marines on the mission aboard the Sulaco, a military transport ship.
The military unit consists of ten men and four women, with specific roles assigned to each.
The troops, experienced in combat, exhibit a relaxed demeanor before the mission.
Vasquez, a tough female soldier, treats Ripley with indifference, showcasing the unit's dynamics.
Detailed weaponry and equipment are listed, highlighting the advanced arsenal carried by the team.
Gorman's briefing on the mission reveals concerns about the colony's communication blackout.
The team lands on Acheron, encountering signs of a violent struggle at the deserted colony complex.

39:56

Alien horror unfolds in dark structure.

Ripley watches monitors as they question a traumatized girl who refuses to speak.
Gorman orders ground teams to search the complex while Ripley wants to join.
The APC is lowered with manipulator arms and servo-gun turrets.
The team boards the APC, directed by Gorman to head to the terraforming plant.
A biomechanical entity emerges from the ship, terrifying the crew.
The team explores a dark, steam-filled alien structure with eerie walls.
Monitors show detritus fused with resin in the structure, including human bones.
The team faces living horror in a chamber with entombed colonists in cocoons.
Apone's team encounters aliens emerging from cocoons, leading to a chaotic firefight.
Ripley drives the APC into the structure, facing off against aliens and rescuing survivors.

53:51

Alien bio-weapon threatens colony, sacrifices made.

Skotak believes the eggs were transported by a large alien as a bio-weapon in an ancient war.
The creatures reproduce exponentially and could decimate entire populations.
The queen imposes order among the creatures but doesn't signify intelligence.
The colonists destroyed the derelict ship, settling a debate about its fate.
The atmosphere processor was destroyed before the marines arrived.
Ripley discusses countering the xenomorph's venom with the Xenobiologist.
Ripley, Hicks, and team search for a shuttle-type ship using base cameras.
The base's heat-exchanger system is damaged, leading to imminent system failure.
The team faces intense fighting and an alien attack in the colony complex.
Vasquez sacrifices herself to save the team, detonating grenades to fend off aliens.

01:07:12

"Ripley's Battle Against the Alien Queen"

Ripley, unable to act with self-determination, demands Bishop to land the ship, but he refuses.
Ripley, Hicks, and others find themselves in a complex with a roaring infernal engine and decide to search for a shuttle craft.
Character names in the treatment differ from the final film, with Dietrich originally named Lydecker and PFC Hay becoming Spunkmeyer.
Ripley's motivation to set foot on the planet is driven by the discovery of Newt, forming a bond with her.
The treatment includes unique moments like Hudson being captured and communicating with marines inside the hive.
Bishop, unlike Burke, initially mistrusted, is revealed to be a character the audience can support but ultimately fails to save the characters.
Ripley's motivation to enter the Alien Hive in the treatment is to escape using a ship found inside, not due to Newt's capture.
Ripley faces the Queen Alien in a different setting, leading to a standout power loader fight on the Sulaco.
Ripley uses grenades to disrupt the hive, leading to chaos among the Aliens, while Hicks sacrifices himself for Ripley and Newt.
Ripley successfully escapes in a shuttle ship, jettisoning the cargo module containing eggs, and lands on the Sulaco, encountering Bishop and the Alien Queen.

01:20:26

Ripley battles Alien Queen in intense showdown.

Ripley engages in a fierce battle with the Alien Queen in a storage bay, utilizing a power loader to combat the creature.
The intense fight leads to Ripley crushing two of the Alien's limbs with the power loader's claws, narrowly avoiding the Alien's deadly attacks.
Ripley and the Alien Queen plummet into a loading lock, where Ripley manages to open the outer door, sending the Alien into space.
After defeating the Alien, Ripley rescues Newt and Bishop, carrying them to safety as the Alien Queen meets her demise.
The film "Aliens" evolves from its initial concept, with James Cameron's vision shaping the production and enhancing the storyline.
Cameron's expanded ideas for the Alien lifecycle, including Albino Drones and the warrior xenomorph's unique abilities, offer intriguing possibilities for the film's narrative.

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