In the world of the Alien movies, android characters can either harm or help the humans they're hired to serve. Though, for the most part, we've seen a lot of these synthetic characters wreck havoc, or in the case of Prometheus' David, engage in scientific experiments on said humans without their knowing consent. With Michael Fassbender reprising said role in Alien: Covenant, we can more than likely expect the came chicanery that David showed his previous compatriots. Though in his newly revealed role, he's not only playing another synthetic being, but this time he's playing a less cheeky model than we've previously seen.
Fassbender recently sat down with ComingSoon.net to talk about the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed. But with Alien: Covenant becoming an active blip on everyone's radars, partially thanks to its release date upgrade, it's obviously a prime time to start digging for details on Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi thriller. It's this moment that prompted Michael Fassbender to confirm that he's playing a character by the name of Walter, and it sounds like he's the synthetic companion of the Covenant's crew. His personality is best described in the following blurb from Fassbender:
I think Walter's a real different kettle of fish. David was definitely a work-in-progress, somewhat of a prototype I suppose. The elements of him that were the human elements I think people found a little disturbing, so Walter's more of a straightforward robot. Pretty logical, much more of a servant without the ego
This is certainly a huge step from the David model we saw in Prometheus, as he was surprisingly able to carry out human traits such as emotional displays, dyeing his hair out of vanity and, most distressingly, lying about his true purpose on the titular ship's mission to LV 223. Obviously some folks on Earth must have had some problems with their David units, which more than likely caused the Weyland Corporation to go back to the drawing board and produce the new Walter line of robots. To make a comparison to previous Alien history, David is like Bishop in Alien 3, while Walter is more like Bishop in Aliens. Who'd have thought the robot we were all sold four years ago would start to creep people out, causing them to distrust their David units.
Of course, now that we know that Michael Fassbender is playing two different androids in Alien: Covenant, we're anticipating some interesting moments between David and Walter if and when they eventually meet. Not only would it be spectacular to see Fassbender playing opposite another "version" of himself, but there's decent potential for some mind-melting dialogue between the two variants on the same theme and their viewpoints on humanity, and their own purpose. Also, if things devolve into a giant droid fight, we'd have no problem watching the two throw down in epic fashion, with a Xenomorph to referee the proceedings.
Alien: Covenant will return the franchise to the galaxy of the cinema on May 19th.
