Some 35 years after it was released, director Ridley Scott has revealed he had a very different ending in mind for the iconic film Alien.
The science fiction horror film, which launched a franchise that will continue this year with sixth instalment Alien: Covenant, marked the first big screen lead role for Sigourney Weaver.
Her character, the tough-as-nails, alien-torching Ellen Ripley, appears in a further three Alien sequels - but if Scott had it his way, she would've met a grisly end during the first film's climax.
![From left to right, actors Yaphet Kotto, Sigourney Weaver and Ian Holm on the set of Ridley Scott's science fiction classic 'Alien', circa 1979. Photo / Getty](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/FJIKLIDN6CMBIEZJBTG34SPN7Y.jpg?auth=def91dc1b598677cca5039a6d96fe39022402fa05055538a1a3340683e9b4375&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
Alien ends with Ripley finally defeating the 'xenomorph' alien after a fierce battle, then recording one last log entry before shutting herself into a pod for hypersleep.