Alien: The Original Screenplay Comic Book Coming From Dark Horse

January 17, 2020

Dark Horse to Release Comic Based On Dan O’Bannon’s Original Alien Screenplay

Forty years after its release, Ridley Scott’s sci-fi masterpiece Alien continues to thrill audiences. Now, following in the footsteps of the recently released comic book series based on William Gibson’s unused script for Alien 3, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Dark Horse will unveil Alien: The Original Screenplay, based on Dan O’Bannon’s first take on the space horror classic. Per the report, the series will launch on April 22, but you can check out some samples in the gallery below!

The new comic series arrives courtesy of Cristiano Seixas and Guilherme Balbi and will feature a decidedly different take on Alien, one boasting new characters and ship designs. The original screenplay was written by O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett, but then heavily rewritten in an uncredited pass by producer Walter Hill, who made radical changes including making Ripley a woman.

Alien follows the crew of the commercial starship Nostromo, who, on their way home from a long voyage out to space, pick up a deadly extra-terrestrial life form that proceeds to pick each of them off one by one. The film remains notable for its incredible visuals, gut wrenching suspense, and unique sci-fi horror.

Alien launched the career of Sigourney Weaver, who would return for three more sequels, and kick started a franchise that continues to this day. The film grossed an incredible $80 million at the domestic box office upon its release in 1979, and currently boasts a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.