This summer marks thirty years since James Cameron, then a newbie director with one hit film to his name, created one of the best sci-fi sequels ever made with Aliens. Together with Sigourney Weaver, who reprised her role as Ellen Ripley from the original Ridley Scott 1979 Alien film, Aliens turned the action up to 11, and introduced a whole new series of characters that audiences grew to love, like the android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) and the sole survivor of the colony on planet LV-426, a little girl named Newt (Carrie Henn).
While Ridley Scott’s original classic was essentially a sci-fi horror film, a “haunted house in space” so to speak, Aliens embraced the aesthetic of an ’80s Stallone/Schwarzenegger action flick, while keeping just enough of the scary elements from the first movie to satisfy all the horror fans out there too. It was the perfect example of all the right elements coming together at just the right time.
Now publisher Titan Books is celebrating Aliens’ anniversary with their new book Aliens: The Set Photography, which reveals a unique new perspective on the making of James Cameron’s classic film, as the focus shifts behind the cameras to capture the director, cast and crew as they bring the second action-packed installment of the Alien saga to the big screen.
Aliens: The Set Photography also features brand-new insights and memories from actors Carrie Henn (Newt) and Jenette Goldstein (Private Vasquez). The book included a wealth of never-before-seen pictures including casting publicity shots, behind-the-scenes ‘between-take’ breaks, weapons, vehicles and much more, Aliens: The Set Photography acts as a sumptuous visual celebration of one of the greatest science-fiction action films of all time.
Aliens: The Set Photography will be released on August 9, and in the meantime, check out some amazing images from the book in our gallery below:
Are you excited about this behind the scenes look at the classic film, and do you have any Aliens memories you’d love to share? Let us know in the comments below.
Images: Twentieth Century Fox / Titan Books
