10 More Best Actor Replacements In Movies
4. Michael Biehn - Aliens
There was just one problem with 20th Century Fox’s plans to make a sequel to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi stalwart Alien - pretty much all the characters had been killed off in the first film.
To get around this rather annoying issue, a host of new faces were brought in to back up Ellen Ripley in her fight against the Xenomorphs, including Corporal Dwayne Hicks, played by Michael Biehn.
Biehn, who director James Cameron had previously cast as Kyle Reese in The Terminator, played a key part in the success of this movie, forming a bond with the traumatised Ripley and helping her start her new family alongside Newt and Bishop.
Well, until they’re all pointlessly killed off in the next film.
Producer Walter Hill initially recommended James Remar, who had previously appeared in The Warriors and The Cotton Club, to play Hicks. Remar left the set shortly after filming started due to an arrest for drug possession, which led to Biehn taking on the role.
Remar does in appear in some parts of the final cut, but only from behind.