Rare ALIENS Set Photos Show Actor James Remar as the Original Corporal Hicks
James Cameron's 1986 film Aliens is an awesomely badass movie and one of my favorite sci-fi action films of all time. The movie was released with Michael Biehn in the role of Marine squad Leader Corporal Dwayne Hicks. But before Biehn came along, James Remar had originally been cast in the role. He even filmed a good chunk of the film before he was fired. Today we have a set of rare photos from the movie that feature Remar as Hicks.
It's really weird seeing him in the role because after seeing Biehn kick ass as the character it's hard to imagine anyone else play him. Remar was most recently in the Daniel Radcliffe film Horns, but he might be best known for his part as Harry Morgan in Dexter.
When Remar was let go from Aliens, it was said that it was because of "creative differences," but the actor told the Sidebar podcast a few years ago that the real reason was his drug addiction.
I had a terrible drug problem, but I got through it. I had a great career and personal life, and messed it up with a terrible drug habit… I was initially cast as Corporal Hicks, and I was fired after a couple weeks of filming because I got busted for possession of drugs, and Michael Biehn replaced me.
Check out a collage of additional images below.
Thanks to io9 for the heads up!