If you were keeping your hopes up for one more outing of Sigourney Weaver’s iconic Alien leading lady, Ellen Ripley, it’s time to lose that hope.
In a new sit-down with Total Film, Weaver proclaims her time as Ellen Ripley has passed. She references the long-rumored Neill Blomkamp project that never came to be and says she believes the time is for a younger performer.
“There are all kinds of younger actors taking this kind of role. And there was an Alien [film] that I really wanted to do with Neill Blomkamp, and we didn’t get to do that, but, you know, that ship has sailed,” Weaver says to Total Film magazine. She adds, “I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. I put in my time in space!”
When asked why she believes the character is often referenced and had so many requests to return, the actress says Ridley Scott just crafted one of cinema’s must-see heroines. “I think Ridley [Scott] has a lot to do with [the longevity of Ellen Ripley and Alien],” she continues.
“They made Ripley a woman without making her this helpless creature. Because I think I was very lucky. These were men who were creating this woman character, but they liked and respected strong women.”
Weaver briefly mentioned the canceled Neill Blomkamp Alien movie; the film was rumored to be a direct sequel to James Cameron’s Aliens, and we even got some concept art that saw the return of Ellen Ripley as well as Newt and Michael Biehn as Corporal Hicks.
The next Alien-related projects are Fede Alvarez’s Alien movie, along with FX’s TV series from Noah Hawley.
Originally published April 29, 2023. Updated April 30, 2023.
