20 Things You Didn't Know About Aliens
12. Corporal Hicks Was Originally Portrayed By Another Actor
Corporal Hicks is one of the most iconic characters in the film, with Michael Biehn putting in a career best performance. Interestingly, he was not Cameron's number one choice.
Hicks was originally set to be portrayed by James Remar, an actor probably best known for playing Ajax in The Warriors. The actors who played the marines were given military training, whereupon Remar allegedly discharged a live shotgun round into a wall. He was also found to be in possession of drugs, for which he was swiftly fired for.
Technically speaking, Remar still stars in the film. The shot where the marines first arrive in the hive was filmed before Remar was fired, so it was edited to cut away before you see Remar's face.