Before diving into the deleted scenes, it's essential to understand the context of Species 2. The film picks up where the first installment left off, with Sil (Susan Dey), the genetically engineered alien, giving birth to a child who inherits her extraterrestrial DNA. The story follows Michael (Nathan Fillion), the brother of the first film's protagonist, Charles Devereaux, as he tries to stop a new, more potent alien threat, Genevieve (Patricia Velásquez), from wreaking havoc on Earth.
Species II (1998) arrived as a more action-oriented, darker follow-up to the 1995 sci-fi horror Species. While critics were mixed, the film expanded the mythology of the alien-human hybrid Sil and introduced new characters and moral stakes. Fans have long speculated about what was cut from the theatrical release. Below is a concise look at notable deleted scenes and what they suggest about the film’s original intentions.
Decades later, Species 2 is remembered as a glorious failure—too ambitious for its budget, too sleazy for its ideas. But the legend of its deleted scenes has turned it into a cult artifact. Fans no longer debate whether the film is “good.” They debate what it could have been.
Had those 20 minutes been restored, Species 2 might be discussed alongside The Fly (1986) or Shivers (1975) as a genuine body-horror exploration of unwanted evolution. The deleted scenes would have transformed Patrick Ross from a cartoon rapist into a tragic figure—an astronaut unwillingly turned into an invasive species, doomed to destroy the very world he sought to explore.
Instead, we have a handsome mess. And somewhere, on a dusty hard drive in MGM’s vault, or in a collector’s basement, a time-coded VHS tape holds the real Species 2—still waiting to be bred back into existence.
Until that workprint leaks, we’re left with the novelization, the script, and our own imaginations. And in the world of Species, imagination might be the most dangerous thing of all.
Have you ever seen a copy of the Species 2 workprint? Share your memories on the Lost Media Wiki forums. And to the studio executives reading this: release the Medak cut. The audience is ready.
The 1998 sci-fi horror sequel Species II is notorious for its blend of H.R. Giger-inspired creature design and extreme gore. While the theatrical cut runs a lean 93 minutes, several deleted and extended scenes have surfaced through various home media releases, such as the Scream Factory Collector's Edition and earlier DVD versions. Known Deleted and Uncut Scenes
Most of the footage cut from the theatrical release consisted of more graphic versions of existing sequences or dark character beats that the studio likely felt pushed the R-rating too far.
The Apartment Encounter: A significant deleted scene involves Patrick (Justin Lazard) going home with a woman he met at a club. Upon discovering she is transgender, he brutally murders her. species 2 deleted scenes
Extended Hotel Tryst: A longer version of Patrick’s encounter with the debutante and her friend was filmed. While the theatrical version remains the only film in the series with full-frontal nudity, this extended take included even more explicit footage.
Strip Club Sequence: An extended dance sequence at the strip club was filmed but shortened for the final theatrical cut.
The "Tongue" Attempt: A longer, more graphic version of Patrick’s attempt to slide his alien "tongue" into Dr. Laura Baker’s mouth during a confrontation. Scripted but Unfilmed (or Lost) Footage
Screenwriter Chris Brancato has discussed concepts that were either cut during the scripting phase or never fully realized due to budget and technical constraints:
Fast-Forward Pregnancies: The original script called for more "fast-forward" pregnancy sequences featuring grotesque tentacles emerging from victims' bellies.
Giger's Vision: Special effects creator Steve Johnson aimed for a "transparent" creature look closer to H.R. Giger's original sketches, but this was largely abandoned in the final film due to lighting difficulties. Availability
You can find these scenes as "Additional Unseen Footage" on most Collector’s Edition Blu-ray releases. The 2024 4K Ultra HD release by Shout Factory also ports over these archival deleted scenes along with special effects outtakes. R. Giger created for the sequel?
Species II - Collector's Edition 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray [4K UHD]
Species II (1998) is widely remembered for its aggressive shift toward "B-movie" horror compared to the more suspenseful original. While the theatrical cut was already quite graphic, several deleted and extended scenes found on the official IMDb list and early DVD releases reveal even more disturbing content that was trimmed for pacing or intensity. 🎞️ Key Deleted and Extended Scenes Before diving into the deleted scenes, it's essential
The home video releases of Species II included a handful of "Additional Unseen Footage" segments that expanded on Patrick Ross’s predatory nature. The Transsexual Encounter: This is perhaps the most famous cut scene.
Patrick picks up a woman at a club and returns to her apartment.
Upon realizing she is transsexual, he becomes enraged and kills her.
This scene was likely removed to avoid controversy or because it felt redundant to his other predatory kills. IMDb Extended Debutante Hotel Scene:
The theatrical version already contains a notorious sequence with Patrick and two sisters.
Deleted footage includes longer, more explicit takes of the sexual encounter.
The Species Wiki notes extra dialogue and more graphic "transformation" moments before the sisters are killed. The Strip Club Dance:
A longer version of the scene where Patrick visits a strip club.
This cut featured more choreography and extended interactions between Patrick and the dancers. Patrick’s "Tongue" Attack: Have you ever seen a copy of the Species 2 workprint
An alternate, longer take of Patrick attempting to slide his alien tongue into Dr. Laura Baker’s mouth.
This version focused more on the practical effects of the alien appendage. 🔬 Subplots and Cameos
Some cuts were made to the film's broader world-building and character beats. Peter Boyle’s Cameo:
According to Stomp Tokyo, a scene was cut involving Peter Boyle in a mental institution.
He was shown throwing furniture while watching news coverage of the Mars mission, providing a brief "lunacy" subplot that was ultimately deemed unnecessary for the main plot. Giger's Original Designs:
H.R. Giger (the legendary designer of the Alien Xenomorph and the original Species creature) designed several new "killing techniques" and sets for the sequel.
Some of these concepts, including a more "transparent" look for the alien, were simplified or cut due to lighting issues and budgetary constraints. Creature Creations Featurette 📊 Quick Comparison: Theatrical vs. Unrated Theatrical Cut Deleted/Unrated Material Runtime ~93 Minutes Adds roughly 5-7 minutes of footage Patrick's Bipedal Form Only seen during the climax Seen earlier in the hotel suite Gore Level Includes more practical "tentacle" effects Nudity Standard R-rating Full-frontal and extended sequences If you'd like, I can help you: Find where to stream the unrated version
Research the novelization by Yvonne Navarro for scenes not in any film cut
Compare the creature designs of Patrick Ross vs. the original Sil
Let me know how you would like to explore the Species lore further.
The following are scenes cut from the final theatrical release, reconstructed from production notes, workprint leaks, and interviews with the unrated director’s assembly.