Who created the 'Alien' xenomorph? Inside the evolution of cinema's most terrifying creature
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: With 'Alien: Romulus' arriving soon in theatres near you on Friday, August 16, fans are eagerly revisiting the iconic franchise. The original 'Alien' (1979) set the stage for a thrilling series, but 'Prometheus' and 'Alien Covenant' reshaped the narrative with their prequel storylines.
As we await the latest installment, a burning question remains. What's the true origin of the terrifying Xenomorphs? Let's explore their dark and fascinating history.
What is the story behind the Xenomorphs origins?
Originally referred to as just an alien, it was in James Cameron's 1986 sequel, Aliens, that the monster was first labeled as a 'Xenomorph' by Colonial Marine Lieutenant Gorman (William Hope), while referencing the species from a case file.
Going forward, the term became the official reference to the franchise's evolving creature, even though it's never been formally named. Call it whatever you want, the Xenomorph remains a terrifying concept with its skeletal, humanoid frame, elongated skull, and inner and outer jaws.
Dripping concentrated acid for blood and possessing a paralyzing tail stinger, the Xenomorph was conceived to be an almost unstoppable foe that exhibits no emotions or interests, other than to propagate its species.
As the Xenomorph turns 45-years-old this year, let's track the origin and evolution of the monster through the franchise's expansive timeline.
How was the Xenomorph's design initially created?
The Alien screenplay's terrifying monster was born from a disturbing dream shared by co-writer Ronald Shusett. He recalled the idea of a creature implanting an egg in a human host, only to burst out of their chest.
This gruesome concept, written down by Shusett and Dan O'Bannon, became a defining feature of the Xenomorph.
The creature's design was brought to life by concept artist H.R. Giger, hired by O'Bannon and Ridley Scott. Giger's 1976 illustration, Necronom IV, inspired the adult Xenomorph's design. He also created the implanted egg and chestburster concepts.
Italian special effects designer Carlo Rambaldi turned these designs into reality, earning Giger and Rambaldi the 1980 Academy Award for Visual Effects for their work on 'Alien'.
The Xenomorph's deadly evolution: From mysterious origin to cinema's most terrifying creature
The 'Alien' franchise introduced the terrifying Xenomorph, a creature that evolved from a mysterious origin to a deadly perfection. In 'Prometheus' (2012), a squid-like creature impregnated archaeologist Elizabeth Shaw, leading to a harrowing birth sequence and the eventual creation of the first Xenomorph.
The creature's evolution continued in 'Alien: Covenant' (2017), where David the android's experiments resulted in the pale Neomorph and the familiar chestburster, facehugger, and adult stages of the Xenomorph.
The Xenomorph's life cycle was fully revealed in 'Alien' (1979), where the creature infected the Nostromo crew, and 'Aliens' (1986), which introduced the Queen, a massive breeder of the colony.
The franchise continued to explore the Xenomorph's evolution, introducing new iterations like the Dog Alien hybrid in 'Alien 3' (1992) and the humanoid Newborn in 'Alien Resurrection' (1997).
Through its evolving design and deadly lifecycle, the Xenomorph became cinema's most terrifying creature, captivating audiences for decades.
'Alien: Romulus' trailer
'Alien: Romulus' is all set to hit the big screens on Friday, August 16