In Alien: Covenant, Michael Fassbender plays not one, but two characters — he reprises his role as David, the android we first met in 2012’s Prometheus, and also brings life to a newer model named Walter, who’s a member of the titular ship’s crew.
As you’d expect, David and Walter look exactly the same, but they’re two very distinct characters. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Fassbender explained what sets Walter apart from his previous model:
“I wanted Walter to be more Spock-like — devoid of human characteristics or emotional contents that are programmed into David. I want him more like a blank canvas one can project things upon.”
The site also had the chance to interview his co-star, Katherine Waterston, who spoke about what it was like seeing Fassbender play these androids on set:
“It was genuinely fascinating. He’s so convincing! It felt like time-traveling into the future.”
In addition to the quotes, EW also has a brand new look at David. One image shows him on board the Engineer’s ship from the closing moments of Prometheus, but the other one dives into heavy spoiler territory, so proceed at your own risk.
The cast also includes Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, Benjamin Rigby and James Franco. Here’s the synopsis:
Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created in ALIEN with ALIEN: COVENANT, the second chapter in a prequel trilogy that began with PROMETHEUS — and connects directly to Scott’s 1979 seminal work of science fiction. Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the “synthetic” David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
Alien: Covenant opens on May 19, 2017.
Source: EW