The Truth Behind Alien 3 | Alien 3: Story behind the Movie (BONUS)

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-07

[00:00:01][music] >> In this video, the production of Alien 3 will be summarized and conclusions will be made through a few different themes.

[00:00:18]The production of Alien 3 as a whole is very confusing, or rather, it raises a great deal of thoughts and questions.

[00:00:26]If you have not watched the video series, I recommend watching them starting from the first part. The link is above.

[00:00:34]Let's begin with the story.

[00:00:36]Over the years, several ideas were created for the film and multiple stories were written.

[00:00:41]Story is the soul of a film, even though some people see the importance of the script and the story as being smaller.

[00:00:49]But without a story, or if the story is weak, the film's content remains incomplete, no matter how well the film is made.

[00:00:57]The most important thing in a story and in how well it works is the creator's vision and the world they have created, which is conveyed to the viewer in a film and to the reader in a book.

[00:01:09]The original Alien 3 story, if it can be called that, was created by William Gibson. It's two versions were both complete, finished, and in many ways good sequels to the film Aliens.

[00:01:20]In many respects, it is a shame that the movie was not made based on that story.

[00:01:26]Gibson's story respected the legacy of Aliens, offering many of the familiar and expected elements typical of Alien films.

[00:01:34]The value of Gibson's story has been recognized as it has been adapted into comic books, novels, and an Audible audio drama featuring Michael Biehn himself as Hicks and Lance Henriksen as Bishop.

[00:01:47]Eric Red's Alien 3 story was in many ways a combination of different people's ideas and directions. For example, Renny Harlin's idea of the alien in the countryside appears in the story, although in space, and the large number of aliens was the producer's idea.

[00:02:03]Red's story remained incomplete, not fully emerging from his own vision, but instead assembled from the scattered wishes of different parties.

[00:02:13]Twohy's story was created by himself, and it was complete and coherent.

[00:02:18]In the background was the studio's idea of a prison station.

[00:02:22]This created the theme that ultimately also carried into the story of the final film.

[00:02:28]To be honest, Twohy never really got a fair chance, because at the same time the producers became interested in Vincent Ward, which pushed Twohy into the background.

[00:02:37]Twohy's story would also have worked well for Alien 3.

[00:02:41]In the end, elements and scenes from the story he wrote were later used in the film Alien Resurrection.

[00:02:48]The excitement that displaced Twohy in favor of Vincent Ward was short-lived and also extremely expensive for the studio.

[00:02:57]When the producers realized that Ward's story, despite all of its creativity, actually contained many problems and shortcomings, the studio pushed Ward out of the production.

[00:03:08]The unfortunate part was that by that point, the studio had already invested several million into the pre-production of of Ward's version of the film.

[00:03:17]Vincent Ward's Alien 3 story, The Wooden Planet, was truly interesting and above all different.

[00:03:25]At the same time, it was absurd and strange.

[00:03:29]Alien creatures, a wooden satellite, and religious monks may not be a functional combination, but it must be admitted that the combination of the Middle Ages and the alien creature is fascinating.

[00:03:41]Ward's story created the foundation for the final film. Because of this, Ward received credit as the creator of the final film story, although in reality his story was only one part of the final result.

[00:03:54]Likewise, the screenplay credits for the final film went unfairly to Larry Ferguson instead of John Fasano due to the technical rules of the Writers Guild of America.

[00:04:06]The story of the final film was created by combining several different stories and the work of several screenwriters.

[00:04:13]The story was not a complete world created by one writer. It was a puzzle made of pieces from different puzzles that were forced together.

[00:04:23]In addition, the story was not finished when filming began.

[00:04:27]In a certain sense, it was never fully completed because the production and the rush to release a finished film overrode everything else.

[00:04:34]David Fincher should have been allowed to build the story himself from the beginning. That did not happen, and instead he began directing with an unfinished story.

[00:04:44]Fincher has sometimes been criticized for the contradictions and strange elements in the film, such as the deaths of Newt and Hicks at the beginning.

[00:04:54]However, it must be remembered that Fincher did not write the story of the film.

[00:04:59]He was a director hired to direct a film based on a story written by others.

[00:05:03]He had limited power to influence certain parts of the story, but not on a large scale over the entire narrative.

[00:05:12]The story was written by producers Walter Hill and David Giler.

[00:05:17]Although they are known for being behind several successful films, they were the ones who fitted together the pieces of different puzzles and developed new content for the story.

[00:05:27]Because of this, the final Alien 3 story is often seen as soulless.

[00:05:32]At no point was it the reflection of one complete and unified vision, which would have been important.

[00:05:39]In addition, the producers have faced criticism for decades regarding the creation of the story.

[00:05:44]When producers begin writing, they usually do not write from passion for the story, but are guided by budget, schedule, and the fears of the studio.

[00:05:55]Screenwriter Rex Pickett summarized it well. The job of producers is not to write the screenplay of a film story.

[00:06:02]That task belongs to screenwriters.

[00:06:04]The film.

[00:06:06]As for the film itself, whether someone likes a film or not is a completely individual matter.

[00:06:12]Alien 3 should by no means be considered the worst Alien film, and for some people it may even be the best Alien film.

[00:06:20]The fan base for the film is large and deeply dedicated.

[00:06:24]Proof of this is, for example, the extremely well-made fan edit Legacy Cut version, which was released in 2025.

[00:06:32]This version offers, among other things, 4K resolution, color correction, restoration of all alien effects, and a slightly new edit.

[00:06:41]In the end, the real question regarding Alien 3 is not whether it is good or bad, but what Alien 3 could have been if the entire pre-production had been handled properly.

[00:06:51]Especially when considering how much time, money, and talent were invested into it.

[00:06:57]Without diminishing David Twohy, Renny Harlin, Vincent Ward, or the other directing candidates, it is relatively clear to assume that David Fincher was the right choice to direct the film.

[00:07:09]He made possible the result that now exists.

[00:07:13]Fincher is like a younger version of Ridley Scott when it comes to visual perfectionism.

[00:07:18]In addition, both came from the world of commercials, where communicating through visuals is central.

[00:07:25]Because of this, it is no surprise that both directors have faced pressure from film studios during their careers due to productions running over schedule.

[00:07:34]There are many common perceptions surrounding David Fincher, in which he is seen as the sole victim throughout the entire production, someone whom the studio unfairly harassed and mistreated.

[00:07:46]This image is especially strong among fans who strongly defend Fincher.

[00:07:50]The truth, however, is that there are always multiple sides to events and stories.

[00:07:55]And in these stories, Fincher himself was not completely without fault. It's amazing to me that Fox is the number one studio in the country because they're all just a bunch of morons.

[00:08:07]Of course, it is an undeniable fact that the studio and the producers put him under enormous pressure. They made Fincher's work extremely difficult.

[00:08:16]The studio, in particular, initially treated Fincher with respect, but once filming began, that attitude turned into contempt and later became openly problematic.

[00:08:26]The same applied to the producers. For example, David Giler initially saw Fincher as highly talented and full of potential, but later he openly and dismissively mocked Fincher by calling him a shoe salesman. With this, Giler was referring to the Nike commercials that Fincher had directed earlier in his career.

[00:08:45]In the middle of all this, it must also be understood that David Fincher is determined, uncompromising, and highly self-confident. When it comes to his own vision and ideas, he is relentless, and he was not willing to make compromises easily.

[00:09:00]This is his strength as an artist, and at the same time, it is his weakness as a collaborator.

[00:09:05]This was clearly visible during the production of the film.

[00:09:10]Fincher wanted to shoot scenes multiple times to ensure that his own visual vision was fully realized.

[00:09:17]The studio, on the other hand, the one paying for the entire production and already having invested millions of dollars into the project, did not want the schedule or the costs to increase because of a director who wanted to endlessly refine details.

[00:09:32]Fincher's unwillingness to bend to other people's expectations became very visible in his working relationships and in his own behavior toward the studio and the producers.

[00:09:42]In the end, the fact is that Fincher, as a person, was not especially bullied or suppressed at the beginning of the production. He simply would not have allowed that.

[00:09:53]The truth is that he himself was not an easy person for the production to work with in any way, and he has openly admitted this himself.

[00:10:01]Fincher also caused part of the problems, the bad atmosphere, and the deterioration of relationships.

[00:10:07]It has also been criticized that David Fincher did not know how to approach the work professionally, but instead lowered himself into fighting against the forces that ultimately dictated the overall direction of the project.

[00:10:20]However, it must be remembered that Fincher was not negative, nor was he intentionally trying to create negativity.

[00:10:28]He was trying to protect space for his own work, and he pushed hard for things to succeed, creating positivity, for example, among the actors and the film crew.

[00:10:38]Uh the point is that if Fincher had been much more willing to submit to the studio's direction, the atmosphere would have been significantly better. On the other hand, the price of that would likely have been a visually and technically weaker film as the final result.

[00:10:55]Money.

[00:10:56]During the Alien 3 project, several people were treated incredibly badly, or rather, many people were deeply hurt by the way they were treated, and Fincher was not the only one.

[00:11:07]For example, William Gibson, David Twohy, Vincent Ward, and John Fasano were among those people.

[00:11:14]One of the biggest sufferers in the Alien 3 production was also H.R. Giger, who in many ways is one of the central creators of the entire known Alien universe through the Alien creatures and Alien worlds he created.

[00:11:27]Without him, the Alien universe would not exist in the form it is known today.

[00:11:32]Giger was involved in Alien 3 with his whole heart.

[00:11:36]He was asked to join twice, and he was betrayed twice.

[00:11:39]In addition, the studio tried to silence his role and importance in the project.

[00:11:44]This was a major insult to the master himself, and it created wounds that never healed during the remaining years of his life.

[00:11:52]This is a great shame that should not be forgotten.

[00:11:56]The insulting behavior and treatment toward different people is difficult to understand, and there is no acceptable justification for such poor treatment.

[00:12:05]But of course, there is one common denominator behind all actions, money.

[00:12:11]Money drives actions and decisions both in positive and negative outcomes.

[00:12:16]It's strange, almost absurd, that the studio spent millions of dollars over several years on pre-production, yet refused to pay Giger the relatively small fee of a few thousand dollars he was contractually owed for his work.

[00:12:30]Of course, behind the money, there are always key individuals and entities who play central roles and bear responsibility for what happens.

[00:12:38]Negative outcomes do not arise in a vacuum.

[00:12:42]In this context, pointing fingers at specific individuals or parties is unnecessary. Anyone who has watched this video series can draw their own conclusions.

[00:12:51]Even without opening this particular can of worms, it can be said that the Hollywood film industry is shaped by certain underlying dynamics, the pride of filmmakers and veteran producers, and many factors and background realities that outsiders may not be aware of.

[00:13:09]In other words, to the audience, a Hollywood production appears as a work of art that evokes emotions.

[00:13:15]To the film industry itself, it is primarily about making money, and behind that are its own mechanisms that are not visible to the public.

[00:13:24]Negative actions and their manifestations are an unfortunate byproduct of that pursuit of profit.

[00:13:31]While such negativity is not acceptable, it is important to understand how and why it arises.

[00:13:38]Alien 3 stands apart within the Alien franchise as a unique entry, both in its unusually structured story and its troubled production history.

[00:13:48]Alien 3 had tremendous potential, but the studio's rush to turn a profit, combined with poor decisions, a ballooning budget, and the mistreatment of those involved, left it feeling only partially realized.

[00:14:01]David Fincher did remarkable work on the film.

[00:14:05]One can only imagine what the final result might have been if he had been given true creative freedom to develop the story and shape the movie as he intended.

[00:14:15]Alien 3 is often described as one of cinema's greatest what if cases, both in terms of its narrative and its execution.

[00:14:24]As a film, Alien 3 has nevertheless found its way into the hearts of many Alien fans. It offers multiple layers and a certain depth that continues to resonate.

[00:14:34]For many, it ranks as the third best Alien film, coinciding with its release order.

[00:14:40]For others, it was a disappointment, or simply an incomplete attempt at something that could have been much better.

[00:14:46]Regardless of one's opinion, the film's background and pre-production remain fascinating and eventful.

[00:14:52]Share your thoughts in the comments.

[00:14:54]What do you think of Alien 3, and how does it rank for you compared to the other Alien films?

[00:15:00]Also, how do you view its production history and the events behind it?

[00:15:04]And do you think any of the earlier Alien 3 story concepts might have made for a better movie?

[00:15:11]Don't forget to like the video, and if you haven't subscribed to the channel yet, it's worth doing so. That way, you'll be notified whenever new videos about the Alien franchise are uploaded to the channel.