Aliens
by James Cameron · film · 1986
unverified
james cameron wrote a 90-page script for the alien sequel while waiting nine months for arnold schwarzenegger to finish conan the destroyer, which delayed the terminator shoot. fox greenlit aliens only after the terminator succeeded, then told cameron to rewrite the script without ripley when sigourney weaver's contract negotiation stalled over her fee. cameron and producer gale anne hurd used their honeymoon in hawaii as a deadline ultimatum to fox, forcing the studio to close weaver's deal at $1 million before they returned.
what shaped this
the makers, scenes, and predecessors this work came out of, grouped by how the influence reached it
the makers behind the maker
- Humanoids from the Deep · Roger Corman
producer lineage · James Horner, composer
Composer James Horner worked on Corman's Humanoids from the Deep before composing Aliens. Hurd worked as a production assistant on that film, part of the Corman circle that fed into Cameron's production team.
“Composer James Horner, who provided the rousing score for Aliens, had previously cut his teeth…”
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the deal
- The Terminator · James Cameron
market predecessor · Fox greenlight based on Terminator success
Fox greenlit Aliens after The Terminator's 1984 box-office success established Cameron as a major action director. Cameron and Hurd received approval to direct and produce the Alien sequel based on the strength of that first film.
“Following the success of The Terminator (1984), which helped establish Cameron as a major action…”
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what’s downstream
later work that traces back to this one