Deconstructing the Star Beast

You can read Gibson's Alien 3 script here.

You can also read Vincent Ward's alternative involving the wooden planet and monks here.

Personally, I think what we got with Fincher's direction was, and is still, the best Alien 3. It makes a perfectly grand conclusion to "Ripley's Trilogy". Due to its troubled production it is not a perfect (especially the CGI!), but I think it adds a lot to the Alienverse. It has a grand setting, great characters and cast, some very deep concepts and themes (think Dillon's speech's). Plus the Runner/ Dog-Alien is the best looking xeno imo.

Its criticised dark and nihilistic themes just show how far down the rabbit-hole the star beast has taken Ripley, culminating in her self-sacrifice to finally end the cycle and thwart W-Y.

A interesting read, does show the problems that arise from too many cooks in the kitchen, the last part of the article does seem to me, that the author was very interested and hopeful that Blomkamps Alien 5 would be made.

It would appear a similar problem that Alien 3 was having is what happened as far as plans for a Prometheus sequel....   Hopefully FOX/RS have a story nailed down, but i think the less than luke warm reception that Alien Covenant had got could put a sequel in a bit of hibernation.

BigDave Do you know/think if Blomkamp's script was based off, or inspired by Gibson's script??

From what ive seen of his concept art and basic premise there seem to be a few parallel's with the two. Most notably Hicks, Newt, and Ripley being alive and well. But the viral-form xenomorph infection seems present in both too.

I cant remember a Juggernaut ship being in Gibsons story but The Sulaco was dry-docked and being repaired similar to the concept art shared by Blomkamp. It was the source of the Xeno infection on Anchorage.

Blomkamp has a reoccurring theme in most of his films with oppressive governments and immoral weapon research companies. That would go hand-in-hand with W-Y motives in the Gibson script also..

This article seem to think the same way.

http://omegaunderground.com/2016/11/25/neill-blomkamps-alien-5-take-cues-william-gibsons-original-alien-3-script/

@IRaptus

Personally i love Alien 3 for what it is and rate  Fincher highly too, i think they should have ended it there with a trilogy, everything after excluding Prometheus and AC, ie. AR, AVP, AVPR, in my opinion is what has cooked the beast and is why the new films aren't doing aswell as they could have, they took away the horror and allure of the alien, and thats probably what RS thought, which is why he tried to go in a different direction with Prometheus, its a shame he didn't stick to his guns and follow on that story but he didnt and we got AC, so we are where we are.

@BigDave

We can only hope that they have a story nailed down but after AC it seems that they are making it up as they go along now.

After Reading some of the great ideas that people are coming up with on here and how well they keep the timeline continuity, it amazes me that we get these films with so many plot holes and unanswered questions, i think they're hiring the wrong people lol

Spaced-Out totally agreed it should have ended as a trilogy! Resurrection is an oddity. It is so far removed from the timeline (200 years after A3!) to me it is more of a fun spin-off than part of Ripley's story...Though I do like BigDave's tie-in with Covenant and Resurrection involving the AI and Auton story-arc!!!

The AVP's did nothing for either franchise sadly. I think the aim was to get a new generation on-board instead of all us old fart 80/90s kids, but all it did was cook the Xenomorph and Yautja.

Prometheus, love it or hate, was a step in a bold new direction but has sadly been brought down by corporate second-guessing and archaic consumer forecasting.

Here's hoping Ridley Scott can bring it home with an amazing third film and blow us all away with a stunning and unexpected conclusion    

I think the Alien saga will always be remebered and studied for having two of the most memorable (and maybe best) films in cinema history as well as being the prime exmaple of what a saga/franchise/any sequel or prequel comes to.

Money, creativity, nostalgia/callbacks, and new blood. There are actually plenty of single prequels or sequels that manage to, at least, adequately balance those factors, but so many franchises just suffer from the balance.

It's all about balance and the Alien saga will remain unbalanced for a long time. I mean, I still love it to death and will always be there for releases and what not, but yeah. 

@IRaptus

Its a good point, as we do see unused ideas and concepts from previous movies make a appearance in latter ones, Prometheus borrowed a bit from Star Beast,  AC from one of the Alien 3 drafts, i am sure people look at unused stuff for influences for sure.

@cuponator3000

Alien & Aliens were groundbreaking for their time, in their own right, and they have been chasing that magic ever since.

They chose two unknown up and coming directors for both movies and they blew us all away, they will probably only ever replicate that magic if they leave it alone for a decade or two and try and bring it back fresh for a new generation, obviously done right, but thats never gonna happen if they think they can still squeeze some profit out of it.

As we stand it needs to be wrapped up with a good sequel to AC, that can tie it all back in and hopefully answer some of the questions we all want and hope for, this could make us look at Prometheus and AC in a different light. 

@Spaced-Out, exactly! They will always have to chase that mgic, while forging a new, unique path. I think there is a lot of potential (although almost every movie ever has had and will have potential haha) for something absolutely outstanding in Scott's last attempt (or last couple) movies in the Alien universe.