A while back, we had the pleasure of picking Dane Hallett's brain about his time working on Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant and Fede Alvarez's Alien: Romulus. Dane Hallett had the unique experience of working on two different ends of the Alien timeline - designing notable creatures from the prequel Covenant and the inter-sequel between Alien and Aliens - Romulus. Dane was responsible for designing most of the prominent creatures from both films. His artwork has captivated our interests and imaginations for years, so it felt fitting to publish this interview on Alien Day this year. During the course of our interview, we discuss how Dane first got involved in the world of Alien, how his experiences have shaped his reality today and where he sees the industry - specifically his part in it, going in the future. Like the Xenomorph itself, the landscape for concept artists is quickly evolving. Check out our exclusive interview below!
Chris, for Scified: Kicking things off, how did you first hear about Alien: Romulus and how did you initially get involved with the project?
Dane Hallett: I heard a rumor the film was kicking off and luckily, I had worked with the Production Designer, Naaman Marshall, on Mortal Kombat a few years ago — so I reached out. He took a while to get back to me, but once he did, he said, "Sorry man... The ship has sailed..." I was a fan of Fede Alvarez, so I tried not to come off as desperate but said, "Okay... You realize I have a book published on the subject matter, I'm the best person for the job, and my Australian rate gives you way better tax breaks, no?" Fifteen minutes later he emails and says, "Fede would like to meet you in 15 mins, is that OK?" I was off to the races.
Chris: You got to work alongside a number of other super talented artists on this film, did you get to collaborate directly with any of them on any designs or were you all more so independently submitting your own works individually?
Dane: First of all, it was an absolute dream team, indeed! We mostly just submitted on our own. I think the spaceship guys had more of a crossover, as I was essentially left to my own devices drawing monsters. That said, we still got on Zooms just to hang out because we had found a brotherhood of Alien geekdom we didn't know we had been in search of for the longest time.
Were you given specific instructions out the gate for what you needed to focus on? Or were your guidelines fairly ambiguous?
Yes! The asteroid was the first thing Fede hit me with within minutes of meeting. He began to break down the story and said I needed the asteroid first up. Sometimes it was like I was forgotten about and I just drew my balls off. Other times, my project was precious cargo and I was getting tonnes of notes (the Offspring mostly, I recall).
You thoroughly enjoyed working with Fede Alvarez, can you elaborate on what it was like to work with him and why you enjoyed working with him so much?
Firstly, I was a fan of his work. Secondly, he was so humble, generous, and had a clear vision that commanded respect. I just absolutely adored my time with him. I remember hanging out in the director's tent in Budapest watching my giant vagina cocoon on the split with his mom. She couldn't speak the best English, but we still chatted for hours and I could tell Fede was a man of integrity, raised in a household of love and good moral standing. I still talk to him and even threw my hat in the ring to direct Romulus 2 when he moved on, haha. The studio would have, of course, balked at it, but I gave it a serious go. The dude is a dude... what can I say!
To the surprise of many who might not have been following details on the film early on, Alien: Romulus bridged the gap between the prequel and sequel films by referencing the Black Goo pathogen from Prometheus. When you learned that this film was going to be dabbling in Alien prequel lore, were there any Alien: Covenant concepts that went unused back then you were hoping could be brought into Romulus?
Hmmm, not really. I definitely keep that shit in the back of my mind though. Like, I'd love to have a through-line of designs throughout several movies, but more egotistically, a through-line of Dane in an Alien world scratches an insatiable fan itch. I doubt I'll ever satiate it, really. I'll also say that I liked the angle of tying the prequels together here. Fede has nothing but reverence for Ridley, and you can tell he set out to truly honor everything he could and even make sense of some of the things that weren't quite resolved from the other stories.
When you first learned of the Offspring hybrid, what were your initial thoughts?
Trepidation... Alien: Resurrection was a term we threw out there on many occasions. I like that movie, but just not as an Alien movie. So we knew we had to be careful. Fede said early on, "The Offspring is the thing that keeps me up at night." I was terrified I would fuck it up, but thankfully the design left my hands and ended up at Legacy FX. I did, as you might have seen, design the VFX winged version that I was literally nauseous about getting right. I knew it was going to be insanely polarizing, so I was kind of relieved it didn't make it into the movie. But then again, there's always a part of me that wishes to have seen it as a neat lil Neca figure.
Were there any other wild alternative outcomes for the adult Offspring that were thrown around during production?
I think you know about the winged one I just mentioned, but also the fact that it was at one stage going to turn into the Xenomorph. I seem to recall Fede telling me that it was Alex Garland who encouraged him to keep the Offspring as it was — to keep it his own thing. Also, it had long hair at one stage and looked way more "teenage."
Between the Facehuggers, Chestbursters, Xenomorph variants and Offspring, which creature was your personal favorite to play around with and why?
I think the Burster. Mostly because it has the most disgusting nymph-like appearance. It's kinda snake-like, and I already have an inherent love for those guys. It's just so... evil. The Xeno scares me. I feel like I'm playing with holy uranium. I avoid drawing it even now. I hate fucking it up and I hate seeing when people get it wrong. It's me at my most insecure as an artist, really.
You provided a number of alternative designs for the creatures in the film. Were you happy with the versions Fede ultimately went with for the final cut? Or were there some variants you wish could have been immortalized on the big screen?
Yes... but I would have loved to have seen the new Burster I designed become a part of the world — the one with the fetal legs tucked up into its arms. I felt I nailed it by honoring what came before while bringing something new to the table. It's not often you're proud of your work, but I really felt like that one worked.
Compared to your work on Alien: Covenant, which project let you have more artistic freedom when it came to designing the film's creatures?
Thank the good Lord, I was honored with a kill spree on both. I proved myself in some form and was trusted to go nuts in both cases. Covenant was more hands-off — like I was instructed to just draw anything I wanted 24/7 — while Romulus was more targeted. It had a more traditional concept-art orientation.
Between Alien: Covenant and Alien: Romulus, which film did you personally have more fun creating designs for and why?
I must most graciously cop out of choosing — as a proud parent of both, I love them equally. On one hand, I got to work directly with Ridley Scott, a personal hero and someone directly connected to material experiences that literally built me. On the other, I got to work with one of the only directors I still find exciting, visceral, and with a sense of attitude and distinction in everything he does. Design-wise, I was equally nervous about getting it right in both cases, and because I latch onto gore and creatures like a great white, once I found my lane, I was gleefully lost. Covenant brought me into this world though, so if I had to choose... it would be that.
If you had to choose between working on another Alien prequel or another Alien sequel, which would you choose and why?
Sequel. Because I have some ideas about where I'd personally want to take the overarching story and do not wish to be confined to the pre-existing destination of the established movies. This is also presumptuous enough to assume I would actually be helming the project...
Do you personally prefer altering designs of existing creatures like the Facehuggers, Chestbursters and Xenomorphs or you do prefer creating your own monsters?
I mean, it's terrifying to attempt both. On one hand, you're playing with holy material, subject to the same scrutiny I personally apply to everything in the Alien-verse. On the other, if you deviate too far with a new contribution, you're subject to just as much ill will. I think at this stage I'd like to play with some new guys — or just a greatly evolved or derivative version of the preexisting royal family, so to speak.
What design were you most proud of in Alien: Covenant and which one were you most proud of in Alien: Romulus?
I loved the split Neomorph I drew that was later sculpted and realized by my friend Adam Johansen of Odd Studio on Covenant — and the strange, deformed fetus that was also adapted by my friend Dominic Hailstone of Tool music video fame. On Romulus, I would have to say the Chestburster, as that would go on to be realized by one of my childhood heroes and friends, Alec Gillis.
Of all the great sequences in Alien: Romulus, can you tell us which scene was your personal favorite and why?
EASY! When Navarro has just been killed by the Burster and her leg kicks the Coerbelan into free flight, and it silently cruises past the corridors of the Romulus station, casting a shadow along the hall before smashing into the hangar. It's just pure cinema... I absolutely loved this scene!
It's clear Disney are eager to keep the momentum going with the properties they acquired when they took over 20th Century Fox. We know another Alien film is in the pipeline already. Can you tell us if you've been contacted about that project yet or is it still too early?
Before Fede moved on, it was understood that we'd all come back for the sequel. But once he stepped away, it'll be up to the new director who they wish to bring it to life. After Alien: Earth, everything has changed. Once you've seen a humanoid tame the world's greatest and most enigmatic force ever put to screen, can its power ever truly be restored?
It's beyond exciting to know you've now been involved in both new Alien and now Predator films. This ultimately leads me to ask the inevitable next question - Are you excited for a new Alien vs. Predator crossover?
I hate to disappoint, but it never really hit me as a worthy cinematic experience. I just feel like each species is so iconic, the likelihood of any human remotely capable of directing a good film would still struggle to equally honor either franchise in the same domain. I'm curious, for sure, but I just feel like the gene pool has been so muddied, I can't imagine it being as fulfilling an experience as I need it to be.
If you were to be involved in a new AvP, which side of the creature conflict would you personally be more excited to explore artistically; Alien or Predator and why?
Alien for sure. I adore the Predator immensely, but the psychosexual, cosmic horror of the Alien world, so rooted in biologically conscious principles - just makes it my dearly beloved one and only. I think I'll always choose it.
Besides Alien and Predator, are there any other projects you've been involved in recently that you'd like us and those reading to know about?
In the wake of AI, I am turning my back on commercial arts and leaning full-pelt into a number of my own projects to direct. After my short film Rancour did so well, and my pedigree with blockbuster and cult movies has registered me as something of a personality out there in the realm of entertainment, I aim to leave the art side behind and get behind the camera. There will be much body horror, gore, and weirdness to be had, my friends. Please stay tuned. And if you haven't seen my short, I encourage you to prepare your palate by giving it a go here:
Fans of Dane's artwork can order official prints on apparel through Visceria or by connecting directly with Visceria_Art on Instagram! Quality of clothing are top notch, and you get a piece of Dane to take with you wherever you go!
Catch more of Dane's work in the new Netflix thriller, APEX starring Charlize Theron (Prometheus) now streaming!
Big thanks to Dane Hallett as always for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with us!
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