Additions range from significant new sequences measuring several minutes in length to individual lines of dialogue interspersed throughout previously existing scenes. Unlike the alternative cuts of Alien, Aliens and Alien Resurrection, which make changes relatively sparingly, the alterations in the Special Edition of Alien 3 are littered throughout the film. As well as adding a large volume of new material, the Special Edition also rearranges some sequences and even removes a substantial amount of footage found in the original theatrical release. The new Special Edition is by far the most complex of the alternate cuts from the Alien franchise, and goes beyond simply lengthening the movie. As a further consequence of Fincher's absence, the Special Edition of Alien 3 is the only one of the alternate cuts from the Alien series not to feature an introduction from it's original director an introduction by Terry Rawlings was prepared instead, but was ultimately not used. Without Fincher to guide the project, Lauzirika stringently adhered to this lost cut, resisting any temptation to make modifications that might 'improve' or otherwise change the movie. This new version was based on an early lost cut found in storage at 20th Century Fox, which had been prepared by Fincher and editor Terry Rawlings and dated from before Alien 3 was extensively reworked by the studio in post-production. Consequently, an alternate version of his film was instead pieced together by the box set's producer Charles de Lauzirika. While Scott and Jeunet agreed, Fincher refused to be involved, having effectively disowned Alien 3 following its troubled production. For the release of the Alien Quadrilogy DVD box set in 2003, directors Ridley Scott ( Alien), David Fincher ( Alien 3) and Jean-Pierre Jeunet ( Alien Resurrection) were invited to create alternative versions of their films for inclusion in the set, similar to the extended Special Edition of Aliens created by James Cameron in 1991.

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