“Alien Identity” Will Undo Franchise’s Cruelest Kills

I enjoyed Alien 3 (1992, Fincher) more than most people. Sure, it’s not a perfect movie; cursory research into the film’s behind-the-scenes history reveals a deeply problematic production. This was writer/director David Fincher’s big-budget debut, but he was brought in well into pre-production, had little time to prepare, and was charged with directing and re-writing a previously approved script simultaneously. Outside creative intervention from producers led Fincher to characterize the experience as “agonizing” and he eventually sought to disavow himself from the film entirely.

While I appreciated the film’s bleak tone and utter nihilism, most critics and fans agreed that Alien 3 was inferior to its predecessors, a sequel that failed to do justice to its source material. Many, including Aliens director James Cameron and much of that film’s cast, were completely incensed, especially by the decision to kill off Newt, Hicks, and Bishop (in the sequel’s opening moments no less!). Cameron called it “a slap in the face to fans,” and Michael Beihn (who played Corporal Hicks), upon learning of his character’s demise, demanded and received almost as much money for the use of his likeness in a single scene in Alien 3 as he did for Aliens.

Now, almost 30 years later, Sonnet Realm plans on reviving the Alien Franchise’s cruelest kills with a tribute film. According to their website:

ALIEN IDENTITY takes place 14 years after the events of James Cameron’s 1986 blockbuster Aliens, and continues the story of Rebecca “Newt” Jorden, the little girl we all loved, but despised to see perish in vain. We’ve decided to bring her back as the lead actress played by the talented Elle Viane Sonnet, to tell her amazing story as a young woman with a haunting past and an uncertain future. Since we’re doing it this way we are obviously not considering the events of Alien 3 or Resurrection, and are considering them to be cryo-sleep nightmares.

Newt Lives!

It [will play] heavily on the aesthetics of H.R. Giger and takes place 14 years after the events of Aliens, with an alternate timeline. The director wants to explore further into the unknown, discovering uncharted territory, introducing new heroes, villains, and ideas, while remaining faithful to the essence of Alien.

Official Synopsis: When given confidential information about her traumatizing youth, deep space colonist Rebecca “Newt” Jorden, must find the courage to face her new found identity.

It’s a do-over many fans can get behind, and even 20^th Century Fox has given the filmmakers their blessing to proceed. What makes this project even more exciting is that Sonnet Realm is bringing back a couple original cast members from Aliens. Carrie Henn, the actress who played young Newt in 1986 will return to play Anne Jorden (Newt’s Mother) in a flashback; this will be her first return to movie acting since Aliens. Also on board: Ricco Ross who played cool yet sarcastic Private Robert Frost (who uttered the epic line: “What do you expect us to use [against them], man? Harsh language?”); Ross will play that character’s brother, Richard Frost.

Carrie Henn

Alien Identity writer/director Adam Sonnet is clearly ecstatic about his brainchild:

“I just want to say that I am very thankful to the fans for their encouragement and support for this very exciting film. We’re bringing some of the best talent on board to give it the quality and purity it deserves. We will be revealing more surprises in the coming months.”

Not to be confused with Alien 5, the official Neill Blomkamp-helmed Alien sequel currently in pre-production at 20^th Century Fox (which also plans on resurrecting Ripley and Corporal Hicks), Alien Identity is part of a growing trend of fan-made films that have been growing in popularity and professionalism. Once considered lesser in quality, recent tribute films like Batman: Dead End and Predator: Dark Ages are nearly indistinguishable from major studio releases in every respect.

Ricco Ross

Alien Identity will use Kickstarter to raise funds for filming; Sonnet Realm plans on launching that campaign sometime in the coming months (yes, of course we’ll keep you posted). No word on whether this film will fill us in on the revised fates of Ripley, Hicks, and/or Bishop—but we certainly hope so!

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Does Alien Identity sound like a film you’d like to see? We’re you upset by the deaths of Newt, Hicks, and Bishop in Alien 3? What’s your opinion about tribute films made by fans? Sound off in the Comments section!

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