Alienstar Sigourney Weaver recently spoke on the likelihood of a return to future films in the franchise.
Weaver first caught audiences' attention as Eleanor Ripley in Ridley Scott’s 1979Alien, instantly launching the popularity of a new extraterrestrial-inspired horror genre. Her iconic role as a sole survivor of alien attacks in the darkest reaches of space would berevived for the sequelsAliens(1986), Aliens 3(1992), andAlien Resurrection(1997). The film series boasts two recent installments, 2012sPrometheusand 2017sAlien: Covenant,in which Weaver did not appear.
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While people have speculated about whether or not Weaver would return asAliengets a new and possibly future installments, Weaver put speculation to rest in an interview withTotal Film magazine. “I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. I put in my time in space!” Weaver made a considerable career in Hollywood after her Ripley role and earned an Oscar nomination forAliens. Her films since have includedhorror favorites likeGhostbusters(1984) andCabin in the Woods(2011), as well as dramatic roles in movies likeThe Ice Storm(1997)andGorillas in the Mist(1998), for which she received another Oscar nomination in 1987. Recently, Weaver can be seen in the critically acclaimedMaster GardnerandCall Jane.
Weaver’s Ripley has also made it into the canon as one of the top final girls and surviving female heroes of the past severaldecades of sci-fi and horror. “They made Ripley a woman, without making her this helpless creature. Because I think I was very lucky,” Weaver said. “These were men who were creating this woman character, but they liked and respected strong women.”
Weaver’s comments come amid a trend of Hollywood older generation actors reprising the late 20th century roles that made them famous, including Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode in the recentHalloweenreboot trilogy and Harrison Ford’s namesake role in the upcomingIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.Weaver’s legacy would have Hollywood looking to her to reprise one of her most famous roles, but these comments prove otherwise. With a new generation of actresses ready to take on classic roles and film franchises, they should have no trouble filling Weaver’s shoes, including Cailee Spaeny, who will lead up the cast of theupcoming as-yet-untitledAlienfilmthat began filming this spring.
Alienis available on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney Plus internationally.
