Species

Top 10 Fun Facts

1. No more Ms. Nice Alien: in an early version of the script, Sil murders a taxi driver without provocation. Worried that the audience would lose sympathy for her too early on, the cabbie was converted to an overly aggressive hobo in the final film.
2. The script also depicted Sil's dreams full of mutant worms and acid, but those elements were omitted to save money. That's right - the good people at MGM robbed you of mutant worms. Do with that information what you will.
3. Budget concerns almost derailed the nightmare train sequence as well, but surrealist designer H.G. Giger was so attached to the train project that he put up $100,000 of his own cash to fund the filming. Artists with power rock.
4. It can't all be red carpets and champagne-drenched limo rides: Natasha Henstridge had to be slathered in KY Jelly and pushed through a cocoon to simulate Sil's "birth."
5. In addition to Henstridge taking one for the team, the birth scene also required some good old movie magic. The train set was built upside down, and then the shot was flipped to create the effect of Sil falling from the cocoon. Take that, gravity!
6. While the alien sex in the film had to be highly choreographed, mere humans Michael Madsen and Marg Helgenberger were allowed to improvise their intimate onscreen moments. Let's hope that's not the kind of "improv" where the audience shouts out suggestions.
7. Time for some nerd math: Fitch explains that the alien signal was received by the Arecibo radio telescope exactly nineteen years after an outbound message was transmitted. Using the speed of light to calculate distance, Sil's alien solar system is approximately nine light years from Earth. Swing by the next time you're orbiting Sirius!
8. The novelization of the film describes Sil's innate tools for choosing a mate, which includes a green mist that emanates from undesirable candidates. That seems a lot smarter than just scoping out his ride in the parking lot.
9. Sil's colorful approach to the world around her isn't limited to sex. In the novelization she can also decide what to eat based on the color she sees when she looks at it - pink equals good. Wonder what color a McRib would be?
10. If you're desperate for more Species fun, there are a handful of sequels: Species II, with much of the original cast; Species III featuring a cameo from Henstridge and a brand new desperate-to-mate alien hybrid; and Species: The Awakening, which sends an even newer hybrid hottie south of the border. Olé!

Cast

Crew