Alien: Covenant
James Franco secretly cast in Alien: Covenant!

James Franco secretly cast in Alien: Covenant!

Scified2016-12-09 07:47:20https://www.scified.com/articles/james-franco-secretly-cast-alien-covenant-23.jpg
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The cat is finally out of the bag. James Franco will star in Alien: Covenant as the captain of the USCSS COVENANT colony ship. His casting was originally kept under wraps for reasons unknown. We can confirm through our own sources that this initial report by AvPGalaxy is not a rumor.

We also know his character's name is Branson and that he will act as the husband to Katherine Waterston's character Daniels. His screentime will not be as prevalent as some of the other cast, however and will appear primarily at the beginning of the film and briefly near the end.

Interestingly enough, Franco had also tried his luck at Shane Black's upcoming Predator sequel, but dropped out to pursue other interests.

What do you think of James Franco's secret casting? Let us know your thoughts below!

If you're a fan of Alien / Prometheus and would like to discuss Alien: Covenant and its upcoming sequel with other like-minded fans, be sure to join in our Alien: Covenant forum! Ranked the #1 Prometheus forum back in 2012 and reigning as the web's top Alien: Covenant fan site, it's a great place to discuss the upcoming Prometheus sequels, dissect details from every trailer and engage with other fans just like you.

Written by ChrisPublished on 2016-12-09 07:47:20

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31 Fan responses to James Franco secretly cast in Alien: Covenant!

Durp004

FacehuggerMember425 XPDec-09-2016 7:59 AM

Wondering why this was kept a secret.

Chad Ripley

FacehuggerMember103 XPDec-09-2016 8:03 AM

Wow I don't know how they kept that a secret. He's definitely toast though lol. Maybe he's the one who gets bursted near the end during the shower scene. 

I could see him and Waterson thinking that their ok after battling some aliens and then bam a Alien bursts out of his back which turns Waterson into the badass of the series. Although before Franco dies I bet he gets Daniels (Waterson) pregnant with our one and only Ripley. 

The only reason I keep thinking that Daniels is her mother is because her name is just Daniels on IMDB. Plus this secret casting makes me believe it even further. I bet Franco's last name is revealed at the end as Ripley. 

David 7

FacehuggerMember488 XPDec-09-2016 8:04 AM

He most likely will stay aboard the Covenant as the Captain. Though, in the end I can see him sacrificing himself to save his wife.

David 7

FacehuggerMember488 XPDec-09-2016 8:07 AM

It also read over at AVP Galaxy that he shot some clips for "viral" footage. This then says they will update the Weyland Site with it now recruiting for colony jobs to build better worlds.

SuperBerserker

OvomorphMember32 XPDec-09-2016 8:12 AM

 Oh God! Ripley's father?

BigDave

DeaconMember10416 XPDec-09-2016 8:13 AM

If its true regarding he is in the movie briefly at start and the end...

If this is not fabricated in anyway.. it to me gives the Plot away a bit... well makes me think about it...

Could he be the undercover slime-ball.... who abandons some of the Covenant Crew?

Surely if he is Captain flies a Large Ship and sends down the crew or some in a smaller one.... we have to ask when Hell breaks loose why would he not want to try and get them back ASP?

Unless he is not a bad guy but more of a Ripley... and this time he is in Space and not on the ground so we cant have no "sneaky ASH letting Kane in to break Quarantine Protocols" type of incident.

 

David 7

FacehuggerMember488 XPDec-09-2016 8:21 AM

Well, their transport does get destroyed, or so we think by the set pictures we saw. So, they must have two shuttles and possible and escape module of some sort. 

 

The quesuok as stated is will Franco be an agent of Weyland Yutani who knows about the signal coming from the planet 

SuperBerserker

OvomorphMember32 XPDec-09-2016 8:23 AM

Well, if he's going to be Daniels's husband, I probably see him sacrificing himself to save his wife, as they've mentioned before. Or maybe roll a semi novel as it was to have originally with Ripley and Dallas in the first movie. If that's what it is, Daniels would have left alive and will find out she's pregnant later. The last name of the two is still a secret, one of them will be the connection with Ripley, Daniels we can assume it will be her mother, remains to know who gives the name? Is it Daniels Ripley or Branson Ripley?

SuperBerserker

OvomorphMember32 XPDec-09-2016 8:27 AM

Maybe that explosion might be at the beginning of the movie. Covenant must be anchored as Nostromo stayed in ALIEN. After the repairs that come make the escape of the planet! However during the temporary stay in the same, they find David and the Xenos. And Shawn? Naomi made recordings, but nothing about her has been mentioned to this day.

Ronin

OvomorphMember15 XPDec-09-2016 8:32 AM

Maybe he might also have an iconic scene like john hurt from alien. What do you guys think

MonsterZero

XenomorphMember1319 XPDec-09-2016 8:35 AM

Hmmm...Why a secret? Were they afraid they might have to cut the scenes? or is this some sequel spoiler?

 

Amazed nothing leaked about this during the summer!

Materializer

OvomorphMember17 XPDec-09-2016 8:51 AM

Wasn't McBride... uhhm..

123Engineer

FacehuggerMember143 XPDec-09-2016 9:12 AM

Mhm I don't know what I should think about the fact that there are quite well known actors. In Prometheus I just knew Fassbender. Now we have actors like Demian Bichir, Danny McBride, James Franco and of course Rapace... Pearce..

However, I'm still extremely excited.

SuperBerserker

OvomorphMember32 XPDec-09-2016 9:20 AM

Or maybe it parallels the previous death planned for Holloway, which was discarded. Therefore, Ridley will be taking advantage of a lot that was abandoned in the previous PROMETHEUS script.

Chris

EngineerAdmin22767 XPDec-09-2016 10:10 AM

Tbh when I first heard this I thought it was a joke. But, indeed it's legit. I suspect Franco stays on the ship and that's why we don't see much of him. Most of the film likely takes place on the planet's surface. I do kind of see him dying by Alien burst however, for dramatic effect.

Lone

PraetorianMember2674 XPDec-09-2016 10:17 AM

Still collating on this one!

Why the secrecy, why Franco? Ridley normally casts lesser known or character actors for his Alien movies.

Well, at least it's not Tom Cruise! Cast him in an Alien movie and I'm out for good!

Aorta

FacehuggerMember316 XPDec-09-2016 11:00 AM

LOL with Cruise I think I'd give it a chance. But Schwarzenegger would put me off it.

Utahproject

OvomorphMember11 XPDec-09-2016 11:18 AM

Clearly, James Franco is Danny McBrides weed dealer. So by default, being around this set some much, Ridley was like " you just wanna be in this thing or what"

Skysnap

OvomorphMember12 XPDec-09-2016 11:26 AM

I think he'll make a good captain. Not sure why some casts were kept hidden. I guess even vickers will be shown in flashback. 

Centauri

PraetorianMember2267 XPDec-09-2016 11:39 AM

movie secrets are great and Franco is awesome, his character is probably going to die horribly...

Slavusha

OvomorphMember16 XPDec-09-2016 12:28 PM

He is the lamest actor on the planet. Why Ridley, WHYYYYY?!

Chris

EngineerAdmin22767 XPDec-09-2016 12:50 PM

@Utahproject "you just wanna be in this thing or what" hahahaha Yeah I bet, eh! That's hilarious.

Lone

PraetorianMember2674 XPDec-09-2016 12:51 PM

@Aorta-Noob~ "Get to da choppa!" ;)

@UtahProject~ Hahahahah, that's brilliant!

Hudson25

OvomorphMember18 XPDec-09-2016 2:47 PM

I like Franco, I like Alien.. together in the same movie? Eh... the jury is going to be out until I see it.  

However, with he and McBride together I would be remissed if they didn't pounce on the chance to give them the best stoner scene in sci-fi history.

Scene set inside the ship's hangar.

Their characters are busy toking up to ease the tension and fear.  Suddenly, they see the Alien emerge from across the room; they look at it, then look at each other.  Franco in his usual stoner voice; "hey....you think we should give him a hit?"  McBride laughs and eggs him on to do it.  The Alien takes its time approaching them and when it comes close, it stops to observe their weird behavior.  Puzzled by their lack of fear, the Alien just stands there allowing them to talk to it some more.  Franco offers the doobie to the Alien, the Alien then smacks it away and devours them.

End scene.

I would totally laugh my ass off if that happened.  Yes it would probably cheapen the movie as a whole, but that would be worth the price of admission!

Pineapple Express in Space!

 

BigDave

DeaconMember10416 XPDec-09-2016 5:03 PM

Sorry Hudson....

Been done before mate...... the Spaights and Lindeloff Fifield and Milburn Scene......  that was changed to the Space Cobra petting one in Prometheus LOL

But if its not been shown... then why not re-use the unused ideas.. and so Stoned Humans trying to talk and pet Aliens could be on the cards ;)

Hudson25

OvomorphMember18 XPDec-09-2016 8:19 PM

Although true Dave, they would have classically trained stoners playing those roles this time around.  It could one up what we got in Prometheus. Lol

Neomorph

ChestbursterMember739 XPDec-09-2016 10:06 PM

Not exactly the choice of actor I'd expect but he might fit like a glove for the specific role sought out by the casting agents and Ridley. 

Patient Leech

FacehuggerMember158 XPDec-11-2016 3:50 AM

Oh Christ. I can't believe this is for real... not James Franco... *Facepalm*

Lalo S.

OvomorphMember13 XPDec-11-2016 6:42 PM

 I like it.

 

django421

OvomorphMember12 XPDec-12-2016 5:20 AM

I am assuming since McBride is already involved, they didn't want people to make comedic assumptions about the film.

 

Neomorph

ChestbursterMember739 XPDec-12-2016 5:49 AM

Yeah McBride himself wondered whether he'd be the "comic relief" in this film in an interview, but realized and said that "there's no humour in this film att all"

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