Alien: this alternative ending to the original movie would have ruined the saga

Alien, the 1979 film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver, automatically became a cinema classic by putting on screen for the first time a science fiction story centered on the terror provoked by the now famous Xenomorph. A film that put its director and lead actress at the forefront of the industry and served as the basis for developing a series of sequels and a universe of its own that remains in full force to this day. But the future of the franchise would have vanished if an alternative ending that now comes to light thanks to Screen Rant, in which the fate of Ellen Ripley was very different, had become a reality.

This is what the alternate ending of Alien we never saw

This alternate ending presents us with practically the same ending, with Ripley (and Jonesy the cat) being the last survivor. Although at the moment Ripley opens the airlock to outer space to get rid of the Xenomorph, the Xenomorph would manage to grab on instead of flying away. Ripley then would fire a harpoon at the Alien, with no major consequences. At this point, the Xenomorph would pounce on the suit Ripley is in to protect herself from the opening of the outer door to space and shatter her helmet, ripping off the lieutenant's head.

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However, this ending was discarded by the film's production company, as it prevented the story of Ripley and the Xenomorphs from continuing as it was conceived. Aliens, a sequel much more focused on action, drew completely from the events of the original installment, with Ripley practically turned into an action heroine. Then came Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, also starring Sigourney Weaver, to make way for the more recent Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, as well as the crossovers with Predator.

Source | Screen Rant