As a fan who grew up watching the fearless Ellen Ripley navigate the terrifying world of the Xenomorphs, I can’t help but marvel at how her character has inspired a generation of strong female leads in science fiction and action cinema. Ripley was not just a woman fighting against alien monstrosities; she was an everyman character, embodying courage, resilience, and determination that transcended gender boundaries.
In its debut weekend, the 2024 film “Alien: Romulus” has once again elevated 20th Century Studios’ enduring science fiction series to the top of the box office. This achievement is largely due to the fact that the original 1979 film launched a saga that would continue throughout the entire Alien movie series, as well as the subsequent prequels, sequels, and related media productions.
Throughout the entirety of this IP, there has been a strong current of female leads that have built this saga into what it currently is. Whether serving the forces of good, or in some cases working for The Company itself, the entire Alien series has been anchored by this collection of women who have saved humanity countless times in the depths of space.
How Alien’s History Of Female Leads Almost Didn’t Happen
As a gamer immersed in the lore of Alien, I’d share that its roots trace back to the creative minds of Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett. Their initial script, which didn’t strictly define the characters’ genders, was quite revolutionary. In a 1976 draft, this project, then known as “Starbeast,” carried an enlightening stage direction: it subtly encouraged actors to bring their unique interpretations to the roles, breaking free from traditional gender boundaries.
The crew is unisex and all parts are interchangeable for men or women.
Indeed, history unfolded in an entertaining fashion when the idea to transform Ellen Ripley into Alien’s clever survivor originated on the studio level. During a 2020 L.A. Times interview with Ridley Scott (as reported by CBR), it was Alan Ladd Jr., then-president of 20th Century Fox, who proposed making Ripley a female character. And so, as they often say, the ensuing events made a lasting impact on cinematic history.
Ellen Ripley (Alien – Alien: Resurrection)
Ellen Ripley: A warrant officer and the sole survivor of the Nostromo, her tales would be passed down as legends. After surviving three confrontations with the Xenomorphs and being revived for one last journey in Alien: Resurrection, her quick-wittedness is nothing short of legendary. Notably, during her final film in the series, Sigourney Weaver managed to sink a basket from quite a distance, without looking, on the very first attempt. This was an incredibly impressive feat!
Private First Class Jenette Vasquez (Aliens)
During Ripley’s thrilling escapades, she wasn’t the sole one enjoying the excitement, given her role as a robust female lead. The Alien series cleverly introduced another beloved character – Private First Class Jenette Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein). A Colonial Marine adept at striking targets, her past is tinged with sorrow, details of which have been expanded upon in the novel “Aliens: Vasquez,” penned by author V. Castro.
Annalee Call (Alien: Resurrection)
In a novel twist, the series ‘Alien: Romulus’ presents two less menacing robots: Andy (David Jonsson), one of the least intimidating synthetics in this cosmos, and Annalee Call (Winona Ryder), an artificial being who assisted in cloning Ripley 8 and her fellow crew members from The Betty, escaping the wrath of a distinct Xenomorph queen.
Elizabeth Shaw (Prometheus)
As a devotee, I’d say that Elizabeth Shaw (played by Noomi Rapace) is something like a spacefaring equivalent of Indiana Jones in the realm of Alien. Immensely dedicated to her work, she played a pivotal role in uncovering the Engineers’ homeworld. However, her relentless pursuit sometimes led to dire outcomes, such as inadvertently birthing a new life form and engaging in a desperate struggle against the creators of our species.
I can’t help but feel a pang of regret that it was David who ultimately took Elizabeth’s life in ‘Alien: Covenant’. In the promotional short “The Crossing”, Elizabeth assists David in mending himself, unaware that her kindness would be her undoing. Tragically, her compassion and trust were exploited by David, leading to her premature demise as he used her as a test subject for his Xenomorph experiments.
Meredith Vickers (Prometheus)
In the Alien universe, not every powerful woman is aligned with the good faction. One such exception is Meredith Vickers from Prometheus, who was deeply entrenched in Weyland Industries from top to bottom. Much like her father and the company’s founder, Peter Weyland (played by Guy Pearce), Meredith’s ambition ultimately led to her demise. In a tragic turn of events, she was crushed beneath a falling Engineer spaceship as she attempted to flee.
Amanda Ripley (Alien: Isolation)
As a gamer immersed in the Alien universe, I’ve come to know that according to the movie canon, Ellen Ripley’s daughter perished. Yet, the narrative of the games and books paints a different picture, one where she not only survives but also thrives amidst the Xenomorph threat. In the game Alien: Isolation, it’s Amanda, a Weyland-Yutani engineer, who outsmarts the horrors of the Sevastopol Space Station and manages to survive the catastrophic disaster. Somehow, she’s kept in cryo-stasis, living past the date when her death was reported.
Daniels (Alien: Covenant)
In Alien: Covenant, the crew of the spaceship Covenant encountered trouble when they fell victim to the schemes of David (played by Michael Fassbender), leaving Daniels (Katherine Waterston) as a potential lone survivor and apparent ally in Walter (again played by Fassbender). However, Alien: Covenant’s shocking finale hinted that Daniels may have been transformed into a Xenomorph breeding facility, due to David swapping places with Walter.
Rain Carradine (Alien: Romulus)
As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to note that the Alien franchise continues its impressive lineup of powerful female characters, with Cailee Spaeny’s Rain Carradine taking center stage in Fede Álvarez’s latest addition, Alien: Romulus. Without giving away any spoilers about the ending, let me express my delight at watching Rain’s courageous battle against the Xenomorphs, adding a fresh and inspiring chapter to the long list of women who heroically save the day in the cosmos.
It’s fascinating to contemplate that if a crucial choice hadn’t been made back in 1979, the universe of the Alien movies might have unfolded in a completely different way. The courageous saga of Ellen Ripley could have left an uncharted path for other powerful female figures in popular culture who ultimately shattered norms and made their mark in action and science fiction films.
As a gamer, it’s mind-blowing to imagine how drastically different the Alien movie universe could have been if not for a single choice made back in 1979. If Ellen Ripley hadn’t embarked on her brave odyssey of terror, the road might never have been cleared for other influential female characters who shattered norms and carved out a significant impact in action and sci-fi film industries.
Nevertheless, I’d like to share a quote from Sigourney Weaver, drawn from an Alien Anthology YouTube video celebrating a 2019 high school production of the initial film. In discussing Ripley’s role as a female character, Weaver emphasized the brilliance behind this choice:
When they chose to portray the survivor as a woman, they didn’t reduce her role to a stereotypical female character. Instead, they crafted a well-rounded individual, making her relatable and universal, much like an everyman character. I believe this approach is part of the reason she has endured over time, showcasing a forward-thinking mindset.
Ellen Ripley continues to serve as an influential figure for well-crafted characters and powerful female leads receiving their recognition in mainstream cinema. As her impact endures, so too will her legacy as long as she inspires creators positively. To pay tribute to this choice, fans can do more than just watch Alien: Romulus in theaters; they can also re-experience iconic scenes starring Warrant Officer Ripley by subscribing to Hulu.
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2024-08-24 03:38