Wapitikev Wrote:Welcome Lexator:
Well...it does give one food for thought.
One would have to assume that the script for Aliens was in development well before '86.
Since the Tomb came out in '84, that would be one hell of a fast re-write.
-Wapitikev
Still, not impossible. Wikipedia says:
[SIZE="2"]While completing pre-production of The Terminator in 1983, director James Cameron discussed the possibility of working on a sequel to Alien (1979) with Twentieth Century Fox producer David Giler.[6] A fan of the original, Cameron was interested in crafting a sequel, and entered a self-imposed seclusion to brainstorm a concept for Alien II.[6] After four days, Cameron produced an initial 45 page treatment, although management changes at Twentieth Century Fox resulted with the film put on hiatus as they felt Alien did not create a compelling profit to warrant a sequel.[6] A scheduling conflict with actor Arnold Schwarzenegger caused filming of The Terminator to be delayed by nine months as Schwarzenegger was filming Conan the Destroyer, which allowed Cameron to write a script for Aliens. While filming The Terminator, Cameron had written 90 pages for Aliens, and although the script was not finished, Fox were impressed and told him if The Terminator was a success he would direct Aliens.[7]
Following the success of The Terminator, Cameron and partner Gale Anne Hurd were given approval to direct and produce the sequel to Alien, scheduled for a 1986 release. [/SIZE]
Which means that the final draft of the script would not have been written until '84, after which he'd have a full year to alter the ending - not so 'speedy' if you thunk aboot ett.
But is it really that similar? Could it not just be a similar solution to a similar problem? A lone hero has to kill a whole flock of superior, seemingly impervious baddies . . . a flamethrower sounds good. Even if it is a rip-off, it nowhere near as blatant as when FPW ripped off the Highlander (1986) when he wrote Glaeken into The Keep (1981). Ginger swordy immortal? Come on.