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Following the success ofAlien, the acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron proposed a sequel to the studio, which ultimately earned two Oscars and became one of his most acclaimed works. And there is a prevalent story about how he convinced the studio for this sequel.
It has been believed that Cameron pitched theAliensequel by simply adding an ‘S’ to the film’s title and turning it into a dollar sign. The Oscar-winning filmmaker confirmed the urban legend surrounding theAliensequel later in an interview, as he shared that the studio didn’t question his vision and proceeded with the sequel.
James Cameron Confirmed the Pitching Story ForAlienSequel
The long-standing tale surroundingJames Cameron‘s pitch forAlienshas become an“urban legend”among fans. However, the filmmaker himself has confirmed that it is true and that he did propose the sequel in a manner closely resembling the urban legend.
In an interview withCinemaBlend, he revealed that the idea just “popped” into his mind during a meeting with producers at 20th Century Fox. He further recalled presenting the concept on the back of a script or presentation document.
“And I wrote, ‘Alien’ in large block letters. And I put an S on the end. I showed it to them. I said, ‘I want to call it Aliens—And I said, ‘But here’s what it’s going to translate to.’ And then I drew the two lines through it to make it a dollar sign. And that was my pitch.”
He also shared that the ‘S’ in the film’s title depicted multiple threats in the sequel and he signified the financial potential of the sequel by turning it into ‘$.’ The simplicity and graphic nature of the pitch resonated with the studio, leading them to accept his proposal without any questions.
“I actually think that’s a bad idea”: James Cameron Saved The Terminator Franchise by Refusing to Cast OJ Simpson After ‘Brilliant’ Studio Pitch
“They never questioned it,”he recalled during the interview. Cameron has also shared that it might be the subconscious association triggered by the sight of the dollar sign or his confident delivery that may have influenced the studio’s decision to greenlight the sequel.
AliensDirector Was Told it Would be a Career-Ending Film For Him
The 69-year-old filmmaker faced skepticism when he initially pitched his plans for theAliensequel.He shared that a“bigshot producer”told him that the 1986 film could spell disaster for his career. As perEmpire, he recalled,
“I had lunch with a bigshot producer when I was about to start Aliens who said, ‘This is a no-win for you. If your movie’s good, Ridley will get the credit. If it’s bad, it’s all you. It’s a career ender.'”
“I don’t know if I would want to make that film now”: James Cameron Isn’t Proud of His Terminator Legacy With Arnold Schwarzenegger That He Regrets Making
However, despite the producer’s cautionary words, Cameron remained undeterred.“I was maybe a dumb a** fanboy,”he recalled, stating that regardless of the potential career consequences, he felt compelled to bring it to fruition. Contrary to the producer’s prediction,Aliensbecame one of the biggest hits in 1986 and solidified Cameron’s status as a powerhouse filmmaker.
Aliensis available on AppleTV.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3449
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
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