To get actors to agree to appear in their films, directors will sometimes resort to cunning strategies. The Oscar-winning director of Titanic and Avatar, James Cameron, is no stranger to such techniques. Cameron used a sly trick involving Arnold Schwarzenegger to get Sigourney Weaver to return as Ellen Ripley in the sequel to Ridley Scott’s Alien.
James Cameron’s Vision for Aliens
Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1979, forever changed the science fiction film industry. The film, brilliantly portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, combined horror and science fiction to introduce audiences to the formidable Ellen Ripley.
Suggested Article: “The Rock really pulled that film”: DC Fans Rattled as Black Adam Made $128M More With Unknown Heroes While The Flash Couldn’t Cross $270M Even With A-listers
Despite being attacked by the terrifying alien creature, Ripley emerged as the badass survivor. Quickly becoming a cultural icon for strength and perseverance, the character paved the way for a franchise that would enthrall viewers for decades.
James Cameron took over as writer and director for Alien 2 when the time came. Cameron, renowned for his innovative storytelling and groundbreaking visual effects, had a specific plan for how Ripley’s story should progress.
The director was set on having her take center stage in the sequel to highlight her bravery and determination again. Getting Sigourney Weaver to reprise her role as Ellen Ripley in Aliens was difficult. James Cameron revealed his clever ploy to convince Weaver to join the cast of Aliens in an interview with GQ.
Also Read: Job Listing Points towards EA’s Upcoming Black Panther Game Using Revolutionary Unreal 5 Game Engine
Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Used Bait
Cameron, realizing his power as the film’s universe’s creator, pretended not to care about Weaver’s involvement. He devised a plan to rewrite the script to star Arnold Schwarzenegger, a popular action star at the time, instead of Ripley.
The director informed Schwarzenegger’s agent, Lou Pitt, that Weaver’s character would be cut from the film. The key to Cameron’s plan was that Schwarzenegger’s and Weaver’s agents worked for the same agency.
After the call ended, he knew Schwarzenegger’s agent would immediately call Weaver’s agent to pressure them into closing the deal. Sigourney Weaver agreed to play Ripley again. She continued to star in the Alien franchise with Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection. Cameron explained the strategy and claimed he never intended to remove Weaver from the film.
“Now, did I have any intention of doing that whatsoever? No, not at all. But I happen to know that Lou is at the same agency as Sigourney’s agent, who was in New York. And I knew that the second he hung up with me, he called him and said, ‘Sign Sigourney now.’ And guess what? The deal was done in 12 hours after that. So, I never wrote a word of that hypothetical story that I said I was going to do, that I had no intention of writing anyway. Anyway, it worked, and Sigourney got her million bucks, and everyone was happy.”
Despite James Cameron’s playful deception, Sigourney Weaver bears him no ill will. Instead, they’ve stayed close friends and worked together numerous times. Most notably, they got back together for Cameron’s long-awaited Avatar sequel. Weaver also starred in the groundbreaking 2009 film Avatar, the first to gross over $2.8 billion worldwide.
Source: Collider
