A brand new, extended interview with directorJames Cameronis the centerpiece of the groundbreaking documentaryAliens Expanded. Developed by the team behindInSearch of Darkness, the documentary offers fans an exploration of theincredible film legacy of what many consider the greatest sequel ever—Cameron’s 1986 classic,Aliens. Alongside interviews with actorsMichael Biehn(who played Corporal Hicks) andLance Henriksen(who played Bishop), among other cast and crew members,Aliens Expandedprovides a unique scene-by-scene analysis ofAliens, with Cameron guiding the discussion. To mark the release, Collider is thrilled to show our readers an exclusive sneak peek at the film, which features an extended look at the iconic character of Vasquez, who was beloved for her strength and her zingers in putting down other soldiers. It features interviews with V. Castro, the author ofAliens Vasquez,James Cameron,Dr. Drea Letamendi, Jenette Goldstein(who played Vasquez) in the movie, and Empire journalistJames Dyer,all discussing the legacy of Vasquez as a character and how she broke societal norms and transcended genders, because she was the most incredible soldier. It also features a tremendous anecdote from Cameron about how he created Vasquez’s most memorable line from the movie.
Writer and directorIan Nathan, known forAlien VaultandJames Cameron: A Retrospective, is collaborating with the award-winning CREATORVC to take a deep dive into Cameron’s most acclaimed film. The documentary feature serves as the ultimate tribute to an utter classic, centered on a thorough analysis and chock-full of memories,stories, facts, revelations, and previously unheard anecdotes from the set. It also discusses the significant and ongoing cultural impact the film has had.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” says writer and director Ian Nathan. “I have been gripped byAliensfrom the day I saw it and it has never let me go. I delved for the roots of what makes it so addictive.With a wealth of incredible, fresh insight from cast and crew, as well as experts and critics, and above all from the fans, I think this is the definitive statement onone of the greatest films of all time.”
Did James Cameron Really Do the ‘Alien$’ Thing?
Unbelievably, yes. Back in December 2022, when promotingAvatar: The Way of Water,Cameron confirmed the apocryphal story that he sold the idea of a sequel toRidley Scott’sAlienby adding a dollar sign to the film’s title.
“I had lunch with a bigshot producer when I was about to startAlienswho said, “This is a no-win for you. If your movie’s good, Ridley will get the credit. If it’s bad, it’s all you. It’s a career ender.” I said, “Yeah, buuuuuut… I like it.” I was maybe a dumbass fanboy, but I could see it so clearly in my head that I just had to go make it. And yes, it’s true. I was in a meeting with the studio head and the executive producers, and I turned my script over and on the blank side of the last page I wrote ALIEN. Then I drew an S on the end. Then I drew two vertical lines through the S and held it up to show them. Maybe it was just Pavlovian conditioning when they saw the $ sign connected closely to the word ‘Alien’. Or maybe it was the confidence I projected. But they said yes.”
Pre-sales forAliens Expandedbegan on June 16, 2025, and will run until August 17, 2025.
Decades after surviving the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent out to re-establish contact with a terraforming colony but finds herself battling the Alien Queen and her offspring.
