Dan O'Bannon's Alien script was originally titled Star Beast.
Alien initially struggled. O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, who co-wrote the premise but not the script, bounced between producers
Dutch customs authorities were appalled when they assumed Giger's paintings were pictures.
The script states that “the crew is unisex and all roles are replaceable for men or women,” even though O'Bannon and Shusett cast the whole ensemble as males.
O'Bannon's draught omitted Ian Holm's android crew member Ash.
When the Nostromo crew disturbs the facehuggers, a blue light signifies danger.