Earlier this month, Sigourney Weaver, star of the Alien franchise, spoke candidly during a Q&A panel at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris about the collapse of Neill Blomkamp’s planned Alien 5. Weaver attributed the project’s failure largely to Ridley Scott’s tight grip on the franchise, produced under Scott Free, which prioritized his own prequel vision over Blomkamp’s proposal. Weaver also hinted that longtime franchise writer Walter Hill’s 50-page script treatment intended to follow Alien Resurrection, offering a different direction for the series.
Blomkamp’s Vision for Alien 5 and Scott’s Resistance
Weaver praised Blomkamp’s concept for Alien 5, noting she had previously worked with him on the film Chappie and admired his creative approach. Blomkamp’s script aimed to bring back Ellen Ripley and Newt in a continuation that excited fans and cast alike. However, Weaver explained that Ridley Scott’s possessiveness over the series, particularly his commitment to his prequel storyline, effectively killed the project.
“Yes. Well, I think like many of us, I was a big admirer of Neill. His movie was so striking, and I worked with him on a movie called [“Chappie
“]. And I loved working with Neil, and he had this idea of bringing Ripley and Newt back. It was a wonderful script, and unfortunately, it was at that point I think that Ridley Scott decided to be very possessive about the series and really drilled down on his prequels. And so I think it was a disaster for that project. We were never able to… I think Neil, in fact, just gave up, and he’s so talented. I wish him all the best,”
Weaver said during the panel discussion.
Blomkamp himself had previously expressed similar frustrations when interviewed in 2021, acknowledging Scott’s authority over the project made it difficult for others to steer the franchise. He accepted the logic behind Scott’s decisions but implied it hindered his own involvement.
“At the end of the day, even though Ridley Scott is producing it, he brought that to the world, so if he changes his mind or if there is a director on it he doesn’t want, whatever it may be, it’s his. I understand that it makes logical sense to me,”
Blomkamp reflected.
Behind the Scenes: How Alien 5 Fell Apart
The Alien franchise has seen shifting creative directions since Ridley Scott’s original 1979 sci-fi horror. Scott had initially considered co-producing an iteration with James Cameron, which eventually pivoted toward an Alien vs. Predator project. However, Scott later chose to focus on his own prequel films, including Alien: Covenant, pushing the franchise into new territory while sidelining Blomkamp’s continuation.
Alien: Covenant ended on a cliffhanger, with Michael Fassbender’s character David in control of a colonist ship, setting up potential future narratives. Despite Scott mentioning plans for additional prequels, these follow-ups have yet to appear, especially following Disney’s acquisition, which influenced franchise priorities. Audiences have been left waiting to see how that storyline would unfold.
Walter Hill’s Alien 5 Treatment and Ripley’s Next Chapter
In addition to Blomkamp’s stalled project, Weaver briefly addressed Walter Hill’s script treatment, which reportedly includes a continuation from Alien Resurrection. This version would feature Ripley as a 200-year-old clone combining human and Xenomorph DNA, exploring a different kind of story than the previous action-heavy entries.
“Actually, Walter Hill has written about 50 pages. Maybe, by now, he’s written more about where Ripley might be now. And although I’ve never particularly wanted to go back to the series, there’s something about her experience being sidelined now, probably by this society, by this company, by this world, and being probably around 200 years old, but still Ripley, and you know, presumably these problems still out there. So I’m going to see what happens with Walter’s script. It would not be like what we’ve seen tonight. It would not be running around through airshafts. It would be a very different kind of story.”
Weaver shared.
This treatment suggests a more introspective, character-driven approach compared to the franchise’s typical suspense and action sequences.
Sigourney Weaver’s Views on the Alien: Earth Series
Weaver also commented on the recent streaming series Alien: Earth, which expands the franchise universe. After meeting the cast in New York City, she expressed admiration for the show’s mix of horror and social commentary, noting its relevance and vision of future worlds shaped by technological power and corporate control.
“I loved ‘Alien: Earth.’ I thought it was remarkable. So interesting, terrifying about our world, and yet you could understand…You can imagine a world where each tech bro owns a planet. You know, it’s not that far from where America is now. So, I’m glad to see that Alien has legs, as they say, in the business. And I think it’s a very interesting time for the series.”
Weaver remarked.
Though unconfirmed, there are expectations for a second season of Alien: Earth based on its popularity among streaming audiences.
The Future of the Alien Franchise and What Lies Ahead
The Alien series remains in a state of flux with multiple creative paths explored but few definitive continuations. Ridley Scott’s focus on the prequel narrative has limited other visions, including Blomkamp’s and Hill’s scripts. Sigourney Weaver’s insights highlight the tension between franchise ownership and creative collaboration that impacts the series’ future.
With renewed interest sparked by Alien: Earth and potential projects linked to Hill’s treatment, fans may yet see Ripley return in unexpected ways. However, the franchise’s direction will likely continue to depend heavily on studio decisions and Scott’s involvement or eventual departure from the series leadership. The balance between respecting past entries and innovating new stories remains the key challenge moving forward.
