Fans of Sigourney Weaver and her legendary sci-fi hero Ellen Ripley may finally have something to look forward to. After years of assuming her journey through the Alien universe had wrapped, Weaver has been opening up about the possibility of stepping back into the role that helped define modern science fiction.
Based on her recent comments, the path to a new Alien film starring Ripley is slowly taking shape. Weaver first ignited excitement at New York Comic Con when she revealed that longtime collaborator Walter Hill had written an updated take on Ripley.
“Walter Hill is a very good friend of mine, and he wrote 50 pages where Ripley would be now, and they are quite extraordinary,” Weaver said. “I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I have had a meeting with Fox, Disney, or whoever it is now.”
That sent fans spiraling into theories about where Ripley might be decades after Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien: Resurrection. Although the character has technically appeared four times across the core series, a Weaver led Ripley story has been absent from the big screen for more than twenty five years.
The franchise has marched on with films like Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, and most recently Alien: Romulus, but none of them featured Ripley at the center.
Speaking with Variety, Weaver shared another small but meaningful update. “You know, we’re just taking it one step at a time,” she said. “It is very interesting. I hope we do it, because I think it will be wonderful. I think the fans will enjoy it, but it’s very early days.”
Weaver has always treated Ripley with care, and she explained at NYCC why this new concept grabbed her attention.
“I said I have never felt the need [to revisit Ripley]. I was always like, let her rest, let her recover. But what Walter has written seems so true to me as very much about the society that would incarcerate someone who has tried to help mankind.”
Hearing her frame Ripley’s potential return through the lens of society, justice, and the trauma she has endured suggests something richer than a sequel that give us more of the same. If this project comes to life, it sounds like it will grapple with Ripley’s legacy in a thoughtful and timely way while still giving fans the thrill of seeing Weaver back in the fight.
For now nothing is official. 20th Century Studios has not announced any new Alien film involving Weaver, and the only confirmed project on their slate is a sequel to Alien: Romulus which currently has no release date.
Still the idea of Ripley reentering the story after all these years feels exciting in a way the franchise hasn’t seen for a long time.
If the stars align and this new chapter moves forward it could mark a powerful return for one of sci fi’s greatest characters.
