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5 Crazy Neomorph concepts that went unused in Alien: Covenant!

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Scified2017-07-08 09:52:16https://www.scified.com/articles/5-crazy-neomorph-concepts-that-went-unused-alien-covenant-79.jpg
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Written by Chris118,044 Reads24 Comments2017-07-08 09:52:16

Alien: Covenant was host to a multitude of concepts and designs throughout its preproduction phase that were left on the cutting room floor. Previously, we've highlighted some of the creature designs created by various concept artists and for the most part the designs we've seen were pretty close to what the final versions of Covenant's new aliens looked like. However today, we're highlighting some of the more unorthodox concepts created for the Prometheus sequel, particularly pertaining to the Neomorph.

Visual effects company MPC provided a ton of concept work for Alien: Covenant, along with storyboards and some of the concepts they created introduced dramatically different takes on the film's new Alien. Kicking off this list is a design more conventional to the franchise and one that resembles Prometheus' Engineer-born Deacon in appearance.

Deacon Design

The Goblin Shark inner jaw design remained but was only really visible when Oram shot and killed the final Neomorph in the film. Beyond that scene the inner jaw was not prominently featured.

The next concept is where the Neomorph took an unexpected turn throughout its design phase. Sporting a less Xenomorph / Humanoid structure, the following concept incarnate the Neomorph as more of an insect, one design even being labeled "Neomorph Grub".

Insectoid Design

Further storyboards showed the Neomorph as more like a Spider or Crab in appearance, with a retractable head much like the Xenomorph Queen.

Multiple Heads & Legs Design

Building on the insect concept, this next unused Neomorph design depicted the spore spawn alien as having multiple posterior limbs, again like a spider. The head as well featured a very different look to what it eventually became.

Insectoid with Posterior Limbs Design

Taking things one step further, another unorthodox design for the Neomorph at one point resembled that of the Trilobite from Prometheus - ditching the exoskeletal structure and replacing it with a more invertebrate design. This version of Neomorph had tentacles.

Trilobite Design

As with the alternate designs of the Neomorph, there were also a number of birthing sequence concepts which went unused as well. Though, many will agree the Backbursting sequence and the Throatbursting sequence were grotesque and shocking, there were a few unused birthing sequences that would have also elicited some unease if realized on film.

Alternarive Bursting Methods

You'll notice the above concepts show the Neomorph bursting with tentacles. This concept was dropped in favor of a fetal Neomorph bursting using it's spikes or by ejection using an embryonic sack.

What do you think of these unused concepts? Would you have liked to see any of these realized on film? Let us know your opinion in the comments section below!

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24 Comments

cuponator3000

MemberChestbursterJul-08-2017 10:09 AM

Good lord, those bursting concepts are FREAKY! The second to last image, with it coming out of nose and eyes as well? What a scary shot that would have been. I love the Deacon-looking design! I like what we received, but that could have been crazy to see! Also would have been nice connective tissue to Prometheus (having that much more similarity in creature design.)

JakeBranson

MemberOvomorphJul-08-2017 10:48 AM

Very cool! The insectoid with posterior limbs definitely makes me think of something out of Dead Space. I would have loved to have seen the NeoMorph with multiple heads and arms as a nod to the Queen Alien.

I liked the back burster scene in AC, but the throat burster scene was slightly underwhelming. The concept of a tenticle neomorph coming out of every orrafice in its victim's body would have been incredibly gory and awesome.

dk

MemberTrilobiteJul-08-2017 10:53 AM

Not a fan of the insectoid design.

Chris

AdminEngineerJul-08-2017 11:00 AM

Agreed about the Throatbursting scene. It was very dark and hard to see. I think the variant shown in this article would have been far more terrifying to watch.

cuponator3000

MemberChestbursterJul-08-2017 12:07 PM

I liked the concept art here (even bettert than the onscreen variant), but I do still think the throatbursting scene was pretty wild! I was a bit shocked in the theater honestly!

dk

MemberTrilobiteJul-08-2017 12:30 PM

"They're all crap just like the movie and this website lol"-

The movie is pretty divisive- agreed. If the website is "crap", suggestions are always welcome on how to make things better. Otherwise it just comes across as baseless complaining and/or trolling.

LegendeV

MemberOvomorphJul-08-2017 1:32 PM

Dead space  !!?

Lawrence of Arabia

MemberChestbursterJul-08-2017 1:46 PM

I thought the throat bursting was terrifying, but the thought of my jaw ripping in half is something that scares me lol It could have been executed better though.

SuperAlien

MemberXenomorphJul-08-2017 2:12 PM

Best concepts are in the film. No bugs or insectoid queen ever from Ridley Scott. That's my bet.

dk

MemberTrilobiteJul-08-2017 2:17 PM

I agree there is a Dead Space necromorph vibe and that is great for that series, but I don't think it fits with this series and am glad they didn't use it or the bugs.

SuperAlien

MemberXenomorphJul-08-2017 2:22 PM

It's the 'near morse', not Neomorph :) Somebody got it wrong. Zee germans...

I.Raptus

MemberPraetorianJul-08-2017 3:30 PM

agreed the insectoid with posterior limbs looks to much like a Dead Space "necromorph".

I think they picked the right on-screen design for the Deacon, Trilobite and Neomorph though its fascinating to see the process they went through to get there. 

The spider-like inscetoid is an interesting one. I always liked the idea of having a hive lurker xeno in fully developed hives. Something spider-like that built the hive, webbed victims, moved the queens eggs etc. Just to add that extra terror of being in a hive lol 

MonsterZero

MemberXenomorphJul-08-2017 5:12 PM

Good monster design is very difficult. Giger was one in a billion.

No Giger. No Alien series.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/5475322/ridley-scotts-alien-could-have-looked-like-this/

I.Raptus

MemberPraetorianJul-08-2017 5:28 PM

MonsterZero is this the image you are referring to?? Dan O'bannon's concept?

 

VivisectedEngineer

MemberChestbursterJul-08-2017 8:55 PM

I like that facebursting scene, where it's coming out of the eyes and nose! That would be cool and terrifying to see!

 

The bursting scene where it comes out of his whole body looks cool in the image, but I don't think it would work as well on screen.

 

Mostly because, part of what's scary about bursting scenes is the victim's reaction -- the shaking, convulsing, writhing, the panicked movements, -- all that. If the Alien is bursting out from everywhere, you can't really tell how much of the motion is from the victim's reaction and how much is just being caused by the Alien itself, as it emerges.

 

As far as the neomorph, I liked the one that they went with for the film. The one that popped out of Ledward was scary because it reminded me of some sort of messed up demon-cat and cats creep me out as it is, lol. 

 

MonsterZero

MemberXenomorphJul-09-2017 6:00 AM

@IRaptus     Yes! That's the one. Would have been a b-movie with that creature.

ChrisA

MemberOvomorphJul-09-2017 8:02 AM

I'm so impressed with all the time spent in pre-production designs and concepts. How in the world did we end up with what we saw in the movie? Seems like another lost opportunity to me. :(

SuperAlien

MemberXenomorphJul-09-2017 11:08 AM

ChrisA what exactly do you mean? Did you prefer the alien with 3 heads and multiple limbs or the 'near morse'? Some concepts were ridiculous although the sketches are pretty good, but they would fit better in David's failed experiments studies. I know even an alien concept by Giger was not used in Alien3. It's good they show us all the hard work, but why do you think the movie a lost opportunity? I'm asking because I haven't had the chance to see it yet.

BigDave

MemberDeaconJul-09-2017 4:14 PM

Indeed some of these are very Dead Space/The Thing.

The Trilobite Bursting Scene looked insane and pretty much similar to the alternative Holloway Concepts when he was Chest Busted in Alien: Engineers by Jon Spaights.

Oh as far as O'Bannon goes his final concept before they turned to HR Giger is this one.

Which is maybe not to different to the Prometheus Fresco Creature.

Timiteh

MemberOvomorphJul-10-2017 12:18 PM

Wow, these are great concepts and some are according to me way more impressive than what i saw in the movie. I find that the Neomorph in the movie as a desing too simple and besides its sheer agressivety and its very efficient spreading method, not very interesting. My favorite design is the insectoid with legs. I am tired of too humanoid like monster design !

Cosmic_Cerberus

MemberOvomorphJul-10-2017 5:59 PM

Loved this alternative bursting methods!! 

Thoughts_Dreams

MemberNeomorphJul-16-2017 4:25 AM

The two pictures that belong to the Alternative bursting methods look nasty as hell. There is something about the things that are coming out of the eyes which makes it look very horrific. It would have been interesting to see how these would have looked in the movie.

brego

MemberOvomorphSep-03-2017 4:05 AM

Reminds me of another problem I had with Prometheus. Scale. Engineers too small, Trilobite way to big. The insectoid looks ridiculous and is simply a B-grade monster. I like the Deacon designs which would probably would have tied Prometheus in with Covenant better, despite the lack of blue/grey colouring.

Blackwinter-witch

MemberPraetorianSep-06-2017 5:17 AM

OH, I love these...

One of the nice things about writing is one can revisit and summon forth unused Concepts, or if not, gain some inspiration from them.

I'm getting plenty of raw inspiration-material here, TY for posting these pics!!

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