Vintage Sci-Fi Movie Posters For Alternate Versions We Need To See

By David Wharton | Published

Hollywood history is full of could’ve beens, alternate versions of sci-fi movies that never quite came about. If there are indeed an infinite number of divergent realities out there, then somewhere the Indiana Jones movies starred Tom Selleck, O.J. Simpson played the Terminator, and Eric Stoltz stayed on to play Marty McFly through all three Back to the Future movies.

Those alternate realities are grist for the mill when it comes to artist Sean Hartter, who has created a ridiculous collection of “alternate universe movie posters,” all done in vintage style.

Check out some of these new sci-fi movie offerings and imagine the possibilities.

A Very Different Blade Runner

For instance, in the world inside Hartter’s head, David Carradine, Jack Nicholson, and Vincent Price starred in a version of Blade Runner produced by schlockmeister Roger Corman.

This would have, no doubt, given the sci-fi movie a decidedly different flow. Replace some of the neon glow with a more brooding and tamped-down version of this cyberpunk world.

The Matrix With Sidney Poitier

While the idea of mashing up fake sci-fi movie posters is hardly unique to Hartter’s work, it’s easy to love the sheer insanity of his choices.

He’s not limiting himself by the reality of who was alive and/or working when, instead throwing talent from different eras together and serving up insane brilliance such as a blaxploitation version of The Matrix starring Sidney Poitier, Pam Grier, Bruce Lee, and Peter Sellers.

Imagine Neo wearing a suit and tie with a 70s vibe. We are into it.

Angelina Jolie In A Clockwork Orange

This would certainly be a choice. Nicolas Winding Refn’s A Clockwork Orange, starring Angelina Jolie in the Malcolm McDowell role would almost, for sure, be a massive blockbuster and incredibly controversial to boot.

Look at the rating he chose for this version of A Clockwork Orange, meaning they were willing to go all the way with this movie.

2001: A Space Odyssey

Akira Kurosawa wraps up Seven Samurai and Throne of Blood only to head off into the greatest unknown, space. Here he takes on 2001: A Space Odyssey, giving it a style more in those first alien invader films.

We’ve got the flying saucer and a suitable replacement for Keir Dullea’s Dr. David Bowman. And check out HAL’s new look.

David Cronenberg’s Tron

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David Cronenberg gave us Shiver and The Fly, almost originating the horror genre with a very different style. Now, he’s turning his attention to the sci-fi movie genre with a trip inside ENCOM’s mainframe.

It’s got all of the creepiness we would expect from the filmmaker with an early computer vibe.

Dolph Lundgren In Venom

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Move over Tom Hardy, there’s a tougher Venom in town now. Long before Sony took over this section of the Marvel universe, we could have gotten Dolph Lundgren dealing with the alien symbiote.

Even A Cool Lost Book Cover

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This one is just too perfect. Lost felt so much like a Choose Your Adventure that, at times, it’s almost like that’s what the writers were doing. The story changed, shifted, started, stopped, began and ended so many times we almost lost track of what was happening.

These are just a few of our favorites. You can peruse Hartter’s full collection of alternate universe posters over at his site. It even includes a few non-movie gems such as this…