Amalgamated Dynamics Designing Alien vs. Predator

Amalgamated Dynamics will design and create the creature effects for Alien vs. Predator, 20th Century Fox's upcoming matchup between two cult characters. The company, headed by Oscar-winning f/x vets Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., have created effects for previous installments of Fox's "Alien" franchise, including Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection.

For Alien vs. Predator, Amalgamated Dynamics will design and perform the animatronic versions of the "Alien" and "Predator" creatures, as well as makeup and other on-set effects for the film.

Company's staff of 88 has been working on the film since July, readying for an October start date in Prague. Shooting will wrap sometime in February.

Gillis and Woodruff plan to use an enhanced motion control system to improve the movement of the film's animatronic characters, enabling the creatures to be more powerful and move faster than was previously possible and allow for more intricate performances.

"We're going to use a lot of technology and new techniques that haven't been used before," Gillis said. "There will be a new look to these characters." Woodruff added, "Audiences will see the characters in 'AVP' perform in a way they haven't seen before."

The company will also design the creature suits when an actor is needed to perform certain moves.

The film revolves around human scientists who go on an expedition to Antarctica to lure Predator hunters using Alien eggs as bait. The plan quickly goes awry, and the humans find themselves in the crossfire between two warring alien species.