Audible is getting in on Alien Day by releasing a sneak preview clip of the upcomingAlien 3audio drama from director Dirk Maggs. This week, it was reported that the unused script forAlien 3from writer William Gibson was being adapted as an audio drama, which will be released exclusively on Audible. Fan favorite franchise star Michael Biehn is on board to reprise the role of Corporal Hicks, his character fromAliens, with Lance Henriksen also set to provide the voice of Bishop. In commemoration of Alien Day, the annual celebration of all thingsAlien, Audible has unveiled a teaser clip from the audio drama from the opening scenes of the story.
Picking up whereAliensleaves off, Audible’sAlien 3takes place on the Sulaco, returning from LV-426.Hicks, Ripley, Newt, and Bishophave been cryogenically frozen, and they quickly learn they are not alone after they emerge. The story is vastly different from what filmgoers received when they sawAlien 3on the big screen, which took the plot in a completely different direction. As for why Gibson’s script wasn’t ultimately used, it’s because he chose to walk away from the project after producers requested multiple rewrites. Once franchise fans listen to this new audio drama, it will be up to them to decide which version ofAlien 3tells a better story.
In the sneak preview clip,Michael Biehncan be heard voicing Corporal Hicks once again. He has previously voiced the character inAlienvideo games, but hasn’t portrayed the role on screen sinceAliensin 1986. With his instantly recognizable voice, there’s just something inherently awesome experiencing Biehn bringing Hicks to life once again. It’s also clear great efforts have been taken by Audible to make the audio drama sound as legitimate as possible, as the sound editing, FX, and other voice work is also very well done. If you’re a fan ofAliens, it will be impossible not to be excited once listening to the clip.
Controversially, theAlien 3movie kills off Hicks, Newt, and Bishop in the very beginning of the movie. After their ship crash lands on a penal colony, it is established that Ripley is the sole survivor, although the android Bishop is later revived. Because Hicks and Newt had such anincredible journey in Aliens, nobody wanted to see them die at the start ofAlien 3, beginning the sequel on such a depressing note.Aliensdirector James Cameron and Michael Biehn both disassociated themselves with the franchise after learning about this decision, and evenAlien 3’s director David Fincherlater disowned the movie. “No one hated it more than me; to this day, no one hates it more than me,” Fincher one said in a 2009 interview.
We’re not going to have to wait for a painfully long time for Audible’sAlien 3, as it will be available to listen to at the end of next month. The service has officially set a release date for the audio drama for May 30, so mark that calendar now. You can check out the sneak preview audio clip over atSoundCloud.
