Alien is now widely considered to be one of the best sci-fi/horror films ever made, but originally Fox didn't want to make it. In fact, it was only the success of another one of the biggest sci-fi films of all-time — Star Wars — that convinced the studio to give director Ridley Scott the greenlight. So, without Chewbacca, there would be no xenomorphs. This is just one of the facts packed into the latest episode of You Think You Know Movies, which focuses on Alien!

To make the alien you see in the movie, producers cast Bolaji Badejo, a 7-foot tall graphic artist they found in a local pub. The xenomorph head was partly made with a human skull and a series of hinges and cables to operate the tongue. Just in the head alone, there were over 900 moving parts to make everything movie.

“You Think You Know Movies?” is a ScreenCrush original series that dives deep into the cinematic worlds of your favorite movies and freeze frames a few tidbits you might not have known. We’ve already tackled Star Wars, The Avengers and Spider-Man, but now, it’s time to head into space, where no one can hear you scream, with our latest video!

Watch more installments of ‘You Think You Know Movies?’ below and let us know what movies we should cover next.

Read 100 Movie Facts You May Not Know

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