During the check-in before the assault there are several homages to other sci-fi works listed on the screen. The names are: Gail Ackbar (Star Wars) Douglas Quaid (Total Recall) David Bowman (2001: Space Odyssey) Commander Shepard (Mass Effect) Duncan Idaho (Dune) Alex Rogan (The Last Starfighter) Jason Nesmith (Galaxy Quest) Edward Buck (Halo: Guardians) Shaenon K. Garrity (Skinhorse and Narbonics) Ellen Ripley (Aliens) Dwayne Hicks (Aliens) Joseph Cooper (Interstellar) John Anderton (Minority Report) Jenette Vasquez (Aliens) William Hudson (Aliens) Rick Deckard (Blade Runner) Jack O'Neil (Stargate) Lucky Starr (Lucky Starr) Louise Banks (Arrival) Kevin Flynn (TRON) Roy Neary (Close Encounters) Johnny Rico (Starship Troopers) Kara Thrace (Battlestar Galactica) Sarah Connor (Terminator) Ryan Stone (Gravity) William Riker (Star Trek) *R. Levine and H. Ochiai are scripted.
"Ripley" is mentioned as a team member when launching the pods.