Alien vs. Predator deleted scenes

Film Unrated Edition Deleted scenes Goofs Novelization Soundtrack Characters

This article covers all the known deleted scenes from the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator. Some of the sequences here never progressed past the early script or storyboard stages, while others were filmed before being cut during the editing process. Despite their removal, several of these scenes were included in the movie's novelization.

Note that sequences initially deleted from the theatrical release of the film but later reinstated in the extended Unrated Edition are not listed here; details on these scenes can instead be found in the Unrated Edition article. Likewise, scenes and sequences from the unused script by Peter Briggs are not included here, as this was essentially an entirely different story unrelated to the film that was made. Only scenes mentioned in the various drafts of Alien vs. Predator's shooting script are listed.

Overview

While the plot of Paul W. S. Anderson's Alien vs. Predator remained largely consistent throughout development, many of the finer aspects of the film's story were altered noticeably as production progressed. Among the elements that were pared back were a number of early, globe-trotting scenes set outside of the movie's primary locations, along with the general amount of violence and gore — originally, the film was envisaged as an R-rated feature more in line with the Alien and Predator movies that preceded it, but the intended rating was changed to PG-13 before filming began. Another notable alterations from a story perspective concerns the character Verheiden, who was originally an archaeologist rather than a mercenary and had his own sub-plot that was ultimately discarded.

Several of the film's deleted scenes have been officially released on home video; in such instances, the release(s) on which they can be found have been noted in this article. Where applicable, the names of deleted scenes below have been taken from these DVD/Blu-ray releases.

Deleted Scenes

Cambodia, 2000 BC

Storyboard of the Cambodian prologue.

The film originally began with a prologue set in ancient Cambodia, in which several primitive human hunters come into contact with a group of warring Aliens and Predators near a sacred temple. This sequence was scrapped and replaced with an alternate prologue set at Razorback Point in 1904, presumably because finding a jungle location would have been more expensive than simply recycling the existing whaling station set (although the 1904 prologue was ultimately also dropped from the theatrical cut, but later reinstated in the Unrated Edition). Storyboards for the Cambodia sequence can be seen in The Making of AVP and it also appears in the film's novelization.

Meeting Lex

Lex was originally introduced photographing endangered birds in Alaska rather than climbing in Nepal. Instead of scaling the cliff and finding Stafford at the top, she was instead camped on the cliff face with her camera, and her shot is ruined when Stafford's helicopter rises in front of her.

Meeting Miller

Miller's introduction was likewise different in early drafts of the script. He was to have his own introductory scene where Stafford invites him to join the Weyland Industries expedition, similar to Lex and Sebastian, set at the Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C. However, in the final film he is simply introduced aboard Weyland 14 with Lex.

Verheiden the archaeologist

Instead of being one of Stafford's mercenaries, Verheiden was originally a glory-seeking archaeologist and rival of Sebastian's — it was in fact Verheiden's team who were hired to take over from Sebastian at the dig in Teotihuacan, only for him to then also be invited along on the expedition. Verheiden was also to have had a complicated romantic history with Lex. The Verheiden character was initially cut from the script altogether, before his name was later given to a mercenary named Vincenzo.

The sister

Lex talking to Miller.

When Lex is telling Miller about her father training helicopter pilots, she tells more about her experience on the ice and mentions that she has a sister who moved to Florida, but the added dialogue was cut. Paul W. S. Anderson has said this scene was trimmed because the audience already knows why Lex is an expert in her field due to the introduction scene of her climbing the mountain.

Availability:

• Alien vs. Predator: Extreme Edition DVD
• Alien vs. Predator: The Unrated Edition DVD

'O Sole Mio

The "valuable archaeological find".

A brief extension showed Sebastian humming "'O Sole Mio" while he is in the snow cat with Lex heading to the whaling station. Lex asks about the bottle bottle cap around his neck and he tells her it's a valuable archaeological find, which they both laugh at.

Availability:

• Alien vs. Predator: Extreme Edition DVD
• Alien vs. Predator: The Unrated Edition DVD (European edition only)

Extra Predators

In initial drafts of the script, the film was to feature a team of five Predators. This was subsequently reduced to three, although the novelization retains the two extra Predators.

Predators waking up

The Predators were originally going to be introduced coming out of suspended animation aboard their ship. This first scene with the creatures was also to come later in the film, with Sebastian's line about the "Hunter's Moon" being the cue for a cut to the Predator Mother Ship emerging from behind the Moon. In the final film, the Predator ship is instead introduced while the expedition team are still on the Piper Maru. Third-scale anatomically-correct models of naked Predators were built for the waking scene, but it was cut, likely before filming. It did, however, appear in the novelization.

The Predator ship

The Predators look down at Earth.

Another extension was to show the Predators looking down at Earth before they assemble their weaponry.

"A long thin viewing window at the front of the spacecraft. Through it, an awesome VIEW of the Earth spread out below us. Standing against the window — THREE PREDATORS in SILHOUETTE, outlined against the blue green globe. Weapons in their hands. The HUNTERS, preparing for the HUNT."

―Script

The hole

When the group gathers at the top of the access tunnel they find bored through the ice, the scene originally went on longer. After Quinn has explained that no team in the world could have dug the shaft in only 24 hours, Weyland suggests that an expedition from another country may have beaten them to the prize, noting that they clearly have vastly superior equipment. An anxious Quinn points out that the machinery used to cut the hole is unlike anything he has ever encountered, and suggests they should find out more before they proceed. Lex then notes that there is no base camp set up for whoever may have dug the hole. Behind the scenes footage of the filming of this scene can be found in The Making of AVP, and it takes place in the novelization.

Put your hat on

As the team explores the whaling camp, Miller runs into Lex and asks her if she'll take a photo of him. She bluntly tells him to put his hat back on, which he has removed, but he complains that it is itchy. She then tells him of a time she saw a man lose both his ears to frostbite, and Miller sheepishly puts the hat back on. This scene is found in the novelization. Behind the scenes footage of it being shot can also be found in The Making of AVP, but it was not included in the final film.

Claim jumpers

The shooting script includes a brief scene before the Predators attack the mercenaries and the drillers on the surface that helps to explain why so many heavily armed men have been brought along on the expedition. Quinn finds Klaus on patrol and asks what he is doing, and the mercenary tells him he is securing the area, as per Weyland's orders. Quinn questions who the area needs to be secured from, leading Klaus to respond, "Claim jumpers. The Russians, the Chinese... another corporation. Anybody could be out there." (It is possible "another corporation" was intended as a subtle reference to the Yutani Corporation.) Following this, another small scene inside one of the huts was to show Sven and Mikkel trying to get a portable heater started. These scenes are in the novelization.

Verheiden escapes

In early versions of the script in which Verheiden was an archaeologist rather than a mercenary, it was he who takes the Predator Plasmacasters from the sarcophagus, thinking of the fortune and glory such a discovery will bring him. When his actions trigger the pyramid's rearranging, he flees the scene with his prize, escaping before the exit seals but isolating himself he process.

Waking the Queen

The revival of the captive Queen was originally to occur later in the story, when the team recovers the Plasmacasters and the pyramid first starts shifting.

Birthing room

Early script drafts did not actually include the scene where Adele and the others in the sacrificial chamber are killed by Chestbursters. Instead, their deaths occur off-screen, but the aftermath is discovered by Verheiden as he wanders the pyramid alone with the stolen Plasmacasters. This Chestbursting scene is likewise absent in the movie's novelization.

Ugly SOB

Verheiden's line, "You ugly son of a bitch!" is phrased differently and cut short in the film's trailer. Instead of shouting angrily, he breathlessly pants, "You ugly... son of a-"

Additional man

Stafford's mercenary team originally included an extra man named Peters, who is beheaded by one of the Predators in the scene where Stafford is killed by Celtic.

Predalien

According to Marc Cerasini, the author of the film's novelization, an early script draft that he worked from included a Predalien, born from the first Predator to be slain, that went on to join in the battle between the species in the pyramid. While an infant Predalien does appear in the novelization, it happens near the end of the story and it is killed immediately after being born by Scar.

Scar turns

After killing Weyland, an extra shot showed Scar turning towards the camera, with Weyland's body lying on the floor in the background.

Miller gets caught

Originally, Miller was not captured by Xenomorphs in the labyrinth. Instead he makes it out of the tunnels, eventually reaching the staircase where Weyland was killed. He stoops to examine Weyland's body, not realizing he is being watched from above by a pair of Xenomorphs.

"The duct opens up into a larger chamber. Miller crawls out and stands. He slowly moves into... the staircase. Miller sees something, walks over to it. It's Weyland's dead body. High angle looking down on Miller in the foreground something moves. High up in the chamber above the staircase are Aliens preparing to attack the unsuspecting scientist."

―Script

This scene was filmed, but the movie was later changed to have Miller taken in the labyrinth shortly after Connors and Verheiden. To achieve this, the production recycled unused footage of either Connors or Verheiden's legs thrashing as they are taken from above, which is why Miller is hoisted upwards even though the Xenomorph that charges him comes from his front.

Availability:

• Alien vs. Predator: The Unrated Edition DVD (American edition only)

Score one for the beakers

After Miller kills the leaping Facehugger, he originally exclaimed, "Score one for the Beakers!" This was cut because the scene explaining what 'Beakers' means was also taken out earlier in the film; while that scene was later added back into the Unrated Edition, this small piece of footage was not. The line does, however, appear in the novelization.

Crawling Facehugger

The Facehugger crawling over its victim

An extra shot of a Facehugger crawling over its victim was removed, most likely from the flashback sequence where we see the maiden being sacrificed. In the finished film you still see a Facehugger crawling over her body, but it is shown from a completely different angle.

Weyland's death

Weyland's death originally came later in the story, after Sebastian has translated the hieroglyphs and learned more about why the Predators are on Earth.

Love scene

Originally, Sebastian and Lex did not jump straight over the crevasse as in the final film. Instead, Sebastian grabs Lex at the last moment, stopping her from falling into it, and the two almost share a kiss as he holds her to him. They turn back, only to be confronted by a Xenomorph, after which the scene plays out as in the final film and they jump the gap. This scene was cut to make the jump appear more dramatic, with Lex and Sebastian leaping straight across the gap as soon as they get there, instead of the second time they reach it.

Availability:

• Alien vs. Predator: Extreme Edition DVD
• Alien vs. Predator: The Unrated Edition DVD

Noticing Grid

The trailer includes a brief shot of Grid looking at Sebastian, with Sebastian aware that Grid is there. This is nowhere to be seen in the film.

Verheiden/Miller's death

Following the scene at the chasm, Lex was to discover the archaeologist Verheiden cocooned to a wall by the Xenomorphs. Before she can help him, he is killed by the Chestburster erupting from his chest; the Chestburster is subsequently slain by Scar. Later revisions of the script changed the identity of this cocooned victim to Miller, but in the finished film Miller's death by Chestburster occurs off-screen, although his body can be glimpsed in the Hive when Lex and Scar go there.

Looking for targets in the Hive

As Lex and Scar make their way into the Hive, a brief extension showed Lex stopping to inspect the Xenomorph resin while Scar moved, scanning for enemies with his Plasmacaster. This scene was to occur just before they reach the Egg chamber where they find the cocooned bodies of Sebastian, Verheiden and Miller.

Aliens vs. Predators

An earlier version of the script featured a large-scale confrontation between the three species in the ice cave outside the pyramid, described by Cerasini as "a huge underground battle between the surviving Predators, the humans, and the horde of Aliens that escape the pyramid". The Predalien was also to join the fray in this sequence. While Lex and Scar still fight a Xenomorph outside the pyramid, it is a rather small-scale sequence involving only one of the creatures.

Grid vs. Scar

After Lex kills the Xenomorphs with the piton gun, Grid was supposed to attack Scar. It is not clear if this was actually filmed, but the scene is in the novelization and the script.

"A second Alien, "Grid" appears and rushes the sled. Grid smashes the piton gun. Scar reaches for his throwing disc and drives it into Grid's crown, wounding him badly. Acid blood pours from Grid's wounds, splashing Scar and burning through Scar's armor. Scar's wounds are brutal but not deadly. Grid and Scar are locked in deadly combat. Grid is clawing at Scar, with blow after pounding blow. Scar throws Grid back against the wall of ice. Lex grabs Scar and they tumble back into the sled together."

―Script

Scar's wrist bomb

In early versions of the script, Scar does not remove his Self-Destruct Device and leave it in the Hive. Instead, he activates it only after he and Lex have escaped the Pyramid and reached the surface, throwing it back down the ice tunnel as a swarm of Xenomorphs — and the Queen — race up after them. In this version of events, the Self-Destruct Device's countdown is more comparable to that seen in the original Predator, as opposed to the device's unusually long delay in the finished film.

Grid reaches the surface

Grid on the surface

Another change related to the previous alteration saw Grid actually reach the surface, only to be killed almost immediately when Scar's Self-Destruct Device initiates and the blast races up the ice tunnel. In the film, the explosion instead happens when Lex and Scar are shooting up on the sledge and it is implied that Grid is killed at the bottom of the tunnel. However, the original version of the sequence is used in the novelization.

"Far below, but with surprising speed, the Alien Queen is ascending the tunnel. Razor sharp claws cutting into the ice, giving her purchase. And clambering over her, even riding on top of her, are her children. Leading the hungry pack of ravenous aliens is GRID! Scar helps the groggy Lex to her feet. He pushes her on, running through the whaling station. Behind them, Grid appears at the mouth of the tunnel. CLOSE ON GRID. He is the first Alien to reach the surface. He HOWLS for Scar's blood. This has been a personal grudge match between the two of them. He is about to leap forward when suddenly — The SCREEN WHITES OUT as the Predator Bomb finally explodes. The blast wave from the Predator Bomb hurtles up the tunnel. The snow around Grid's feet vibrates with the force of the coming explosion. Grid turns back to look down the tunnel. The growing fireball is reflected in the shiny opaque dome of his head. Grid has only a moment to try and turn away before the fireball hits him with full force. He is BLOWN TO PIECES."

―Script

Scar and the spear

Scar with the spear

A scene in the trailer shows Scar holding the spear made from the Xenomorph tail. In the film, Scar is only ever seen running with the spear in hand, losing it as the whaling station collapses into the ice. This short shot may have been related to the above scene showing Grid reaching the surface.

Grid's finger

In HBO First Look: Alien vs. Predator - Behind the Scenes, Scar is seen holding Grid's finger. This scene was most likely cut because the scene where Grid reaches the surface was also removed.

"The SNOW around them HISSES and melts where chunks of Alien carcass have landed. One of these chunks looks familiar. It's a piece of Grid's head — his signature pattern clearly visible. Scar leans down and picks something up. He carries it over to Lex. She still wears the Alien Tail Spear and Shield slung over her back. Lex is still dazed, and it takes a moment for her to realize what is happening. Scar pulls a trophy Alien finger from his belt..."

―Script

The Queen's death

Originally, instead of being plunged into the ocean, the Queen was dispatched when Lex and Scar dumped Quinn's drilling equipment on top of her, sending her crashing back down the ice tunnel with the rigs. Scar's Self-Destruct Device then detonated within the pyramid, collapsing the tunnel and burying the Queen deep underground.

Scar and the Predalien Chestburster

Behind the scenes image of Anderson with the dagger

In the script, after the Queen impales Scar at the end, Scar realises that there is a Predalien Chestburster inside him and tries to stab himself in the chest.

"Scar reaches for his ceremonial dagger, but is just too weak. Lex helps it into his hands, and for a moment Scar holds the blade before his own chest. Almost as if he intended to stab himself. It's a striking image, but one that will make little sense until the end of the picture.
Scar (in Lex's voice): The enemy of my enemy...
LEX: Is my friend.
And then Scar dies. The blade falling unused by his side."

―Script

The book AVP: Alien vs. Predator: The Creature Effects of ADI contains a behind the scenes image showing Paul Anderson holding the dagger as he explains the scene to the actors.

Weyland's prize

The film was originally to end with a coda where one of the stolen Plasmacasters is given to executives from Weyland Industries. Although cut, such a scene would notably appear at the end of the sequel, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.