In 1985, Steven Spielberg tried to ruin one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made: “I know what to do”
Steven Spielberg once suggested that James Cameron make the alien in his planned sequel to *Alien* a misunderstood creature hunted by humans. Cameron did not follow the idea, and instead made *Aliens* an action-focused film that contrasted with Ridley Scott’s original.
The conversation took place in 1985, when Cameron was developing the sequel after *The Terminator* brought him wider attention. Spielberg later acknowledged the suggestion was better left unused; the article argues Cameron’s approach helped make *Aliens* a celebrated science-fiction film.
In short
- Spielberg proposed a sympathetic alien for Cameron’s sequel.
- Cameron chose an action-led direction for *Aliens*.
- Spielberg later agreed his suggestion was a mistake.
Explained simply
Alien is a science-fiction film about a crew facing a dangerous creature aboard their spaceship. Its sequel, Aliens, was directed by James Cameron after his film The Terminator brought him wider attention. Cameron’s story shifted towards action and a group of space marines confronting the creatures.
Steven Spielberg was already a prominent film-maker when he offered Cameron an idea for the sequel: that the alien might be misunderstood and hunted by humans. Cameron chose a different approach, while Ridley Scott’s original film remained a point of comparison.
The exchange matters because it shows how film-makers can take a story in very different directions. Aliens became a celebrated science-fiction film in its own right, distinct from Scott’s original.