- "My name is Karl Bishop Weyland, and this is my facility. All you have to do is leave and I give you my word that you will not be pursued... at least not by any of my personnel."
- ―Karl Bishop Weyland (from Aliens vs. Predator)
Karl Bishop Weyland was a senior director for the Weyland-Yutani Corporation and the man in charge of the company's research facility set up on BG-386.[1] Despite being a synthetic, Weyland often concealed this fact and posed as human, claiming to be a direct descendant of Charles Bishop Weyland.[2]
Weyland's own personal goals are focused on gaining access to the ancient pyramid on the planet, which he hopes contains advanced Yautja technology that Weyland-Yutani can exploit. He also had a team studying the Xenomorphs discovered at the site, led by Dr. Groves. In opening the Yautja Pyramid, Weyland triggered the Xenomorph outbreak on the planet. He was ultimately killed by Rookie in a firefight within the pyramid.
Biography
Early life
Despite being an android, Karl Bishop Weyland often claimed to be the direct descendent of Charles Bishop Weyland, who founded Weyland Industries at the start of the 21st Century. Weyland would often state that he has been alive for hundreds of years, although it seems he means this philosophically rather than literally — while his physical form cannot possibly be that old (even as an android), advanced technology means he is endowed with the memories of previous Weylands, including those of Charles.[1]
Before his operations on BG-386, Weyland was responsible for aggressive corporate policies at Weyland-Yutani, including the purchase of controlling shares in the United States Colonial Marine Corps.[2] Through his inherited knowledge, Weyland was privy to many of the secrets of his predecessors and was aware of the existence to two alien species; the feral Xenomorphs and a race of technologically advanced Yautja. As such, this led him to learn the secrets relating to both species.
Discovery
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Karl was responsible for the power surge that freed his specimens.
Weyland's research of the Xenomorphs and the Yautja led to a campaign of colonization on the planet BG-386, where a Yautja Pyramid had been discovered. Inside Weyland's personnel discovered a Xenomorph Queen, which was quickly moved to a dedicated research facility where her offspring could be bred and studied by a team led by his head scientist, Dr. Groves. He later had a number of captive colonists forcibly implanted with Facehuggers that led to the formation of Chestbursters. One of the creatures, however, defied known practices by emerging from the mouth of its host and thus nearly escaped containment. When Groves attempted to terminate the beast, Karl Bishop Weyland stopped him as he felt that it would be one of his prized creations. The creature was later branded and known as Specimen 6.
Interference and destruction
Weyland confronting Rookie.
After refusing to aid Katya in removing the Alien gestating inside Tequila, one of Tequila's squad-mates tracks down Weyland to recover a datapad that has the capability of sending an evacuation signal to his private shuttle.
During the ensuing battle between Rookie and Weyland, it is revealed that he is in fact, an android. This is confirmed when, after apparently succumbing to the marine's onslaught, Weyland attacks again, forcing the marine to shoot him in the head, exposing a portion of his central processor and causing him to fall into the temple's lava killing and destroying him.
Return
- "This was a high cost operation. Let us hope my predecessor's faith in it was justified."
- ―Unknown Bishop, regarding Karl (from Aliens vs. Predator)
After Rookie escapes from the self-destructing Pyramid and boards Weyland's dropship. Katya, Tequila and Rookie are seen in stasis sleep while the pilots of the dropship transmit information from Weyland's data pad about the Xenomorph homeworld to an another synthetic copy of Karl Bishop Weyland.
Personality and Traits
- "You are a grunt, Private, a pawn. Cannon fodder."
- ―Karl Bishop Weyland, to Rookie (from Aliens vs. Predator)
Weyland is cold and emotionless, characteristics conveyed in his typically monotone voice. Despite this, he occasionally displayed emotions — whether "real" or simulated — including curiosity, especially with regards to the Xenomorphs and the Matriarch, and rage, mostly directed towards Rookie. He also displayed an apparently genuine interest in uncovering the history of the Yautja species and unlocking their advanced technology.
Weyland was amoral in his research methods, using Weyland-Yutani personnel as live test subjects (indirectly, through Dr. Groves). His reputation as a rule-breaker was apparent to many of his staff, especially Katya, who was only too aware of his habit of "forever twisting the rules".[1] It is also hinted that he may have actively wanted the Matriarch on BG-386 to escape confinement and establish a Hive so that he could study her intellect and instincts.[1]
Equipment
He has shown to have a personal datapad, that he uses to gather data, such as the coordinates to the Xenomorph homeworld, and is used to call his personal Cheyenne dropship. He is also shown to be trained in the use of firearms, as he carries a standard issue pistol, and he uses a shotgun in his fight against Rookie.
Trivia
- Karl Bishop Weyland is the main antagonist in the Marine campaign in the 2010 video game Aliens vs. Predator, and one of the main antagonists in the game (the others being the Matriarch and the Abomination).
- Weyland is voiced by (and somewhat modeled after) actor Lance Henriksen, who portrayed Lance Bishop in Aliens, Michael Bishop in Alien3 and Charles Bishop Weyland in Alien vs. Predator, and also lent his voice and likeness to another Bishop android in the video game Aliens: Colonial Marines.
- Furthermore, Henriksen appeared as Detective Hal Vukovich in The Terminator, which was written and directed by Aliens director James Cameron. In the film, his character is killed by the titular cyborg; this, combined with his deaths in Aliens and Alien vs. Predator, makes Henriksen one of two actors who have been killed on-screen by an Alien, a Predator and a Terminator, a dubious honor he shares with fellow Aliens actor Bill Paxton.
- Weyland constitutes one of the seven "boss" characters in the game (designated by an on-screen bar showing their health during the player's battle with them). The others are Wolf, the Matriarch, an unnamed Predator, two Praetorians, and the Abomination.
- Karl Bishop Weyland, as an android, is evidently hardened against the effects of EMP as he remains operational upon opening the Yautja Pyramid on BG-386 while all other nearby electrical equipment is destroyed. It is not clear whether this protection is common for androids, but it would seem not — it would be superfluous in most commercial models, and if EMP hardening was common technology, the equipment at the labs on BG-386 would surely also be so protected.
- In one of his audio diaries, Karl Bishop Weyland refers to Ellen Ripley and her actions against Weyland-Yutani's interests in the films, saying, "Even now, I can't help but admire her, despite all she did to hold us back. Three times she faced them. Three times she obstructed our progress. She showed a strength that few possess. If she had only realised the magnificence of what she sought to destroy..."
- In another audio diary, he directly mentions Charles Bishop Weyland, stating, "A dying billionaire embarks on a voyage of discovery to a frozen wasteland. Experimental technology stores his memories. He knows his chances are slim, but it is not the cancer in his lungs that will bring him to his end. Charles Bishop Weyland's final moments are lost to me. Unlike everything else, they cannot be recovered, but they continue to define my existence."
Appearances
- Aliens vs. Predator (video game)
Gallery
