Alien 3 Unmade Movie Script By William Gibson To Be Released As A Book

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William Gibson’s unmade screenplay for Alien 3 is to be released as a new novelization from Hugo-award winning author Pat Cadigan. As the third installment in the acclaimed sci-fi/horror film franchise, Alien 3 was the least profitable and most critically savaged entry, leaving many disappointed. Directed by David Fincher, audiences initially had every reason to believe Alien 3 would be another spectacular chapter of the series. At the time, Fincher had yet to prove himself as a feature film director, having instead made a name for himself with an extensive list of music videos by performers as diverse and in-demand as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Paula Abdul. But the resounding success of the series up to that point had made the idea of a less than ideal third film virtually unthinkable.

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Unfortunately, this degree of confidence in the franchise meant that Fincher’s sequel was far more disheartening than anyone could have predicted. In the years since the film was released, some have come to terms with it – much in the same way that Star Wars enthusiasts have learned to make amends with the prequels. There’s no exact reason why Alien 3 didn’t find the success that its predecessors did, though there’s certainly no shortage of theories. However, one aspect of the film that has repeatedly faced criticism is its script. Written by the trio of Walter Hill, David Giler, and Larry Ferguson, Alien 3 ignored the earlier screenplay written by acclaimed cyberpunk author Gibson.

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Fortunately, for those who want to know what might have been had Gibson’s script been used, Bloody Disgusting has reported that a complete novelization of Gibson’s Alien 3 screenplay is set to be released on August 31, with Cadigan adapting it. The official plot synopsis reads in part:

William Gibson’s never-before-adapted screenplay for the direct sequel to Aliens, revealing the fates of Ripley, Newt, the synthetic Bishop, and Corporal Hicks. When the Colonial Marines vessel Sulaco docks with space station and military installation Anchorpoint, a new form of Xenomorph appears. Written by Hugo Award-winning novelist and “Queen of Cyberpunk” Pat Cadigan, based on Gibson’s never-produced first draft.

As exciting as this is, it’s not the first time Gibson’s abandoned first draft of Alien 3 has been unearthed in one way or another. A five-part adaptation of the script was released by Dark Horse Comics in 2018-19, and in 2019, the script was turned into an audio drama that was released by Audible. But for those who want to sit down and dig into a full novelization of the work, Cadigan’s upcoming book could very well be the best use yet of the nearly 30-year-old journey into the Alien universe.

By this point, the Alien franchise has expanded to such a degree that Alien 3’s shortcomings are easier to ignore. For those die-hard lovers of the franchise who are still trying to come to terms with Alien 3’s inclusion in the series, Cadigan’s novelization could be a welcome addition. Then again, for those who have long since moved on from the idea that Alien 3 somehow wronged the franchise, the upcoming novelization might rekindle regrets that Gibson’s script wasn’t the one that was ultimately used.