20 Brilliant Sci-Fi & Fantasy Films Where Actors Play Opposite Themselves

The Alien franchise has a history of using the same actors for multiple roles. In a universe where androids look human, and cloning is a reality, it makes sense that certain actors would reappear multiple times. Sigourney Weaver plays Ellen Ripley in the first three films and her clone in the fourth; Lance Henriksen plays android Bishop in Aliens, his supposed human designer in Alien 3, and Charles Bishop Weyland in Alien vs. Predator; and Ian Holm (or his likeness) plays androids Ash and Rook in the original film and Romulus, respectively. But only one actor really gets to spend time playing with himself onscreen in this series.

Michael Fassbender entered the franchise as android-with-an-agenda David in Prometheus, and came face to face with another version of himself - the diligent, helpful, and decidedly non-malevolent Walter - in Covenant. Walter is the Covenant ship’s helper, and when the crew investigate the planet David has set up shop on, he is one of the only things standing between them and annihilation.

As expected, Fassbender did a spectacular job of playing the dual role of god and subordinate. But it’s thanks to a special bit of computer tech hooked up to the camera duplicating the actor in real time that it looks so seamless. Fassbender and his body double had to do was match the blocking from the initial piece of film when playing the opposite role, and the computer seamlessly merged the takes.