For several years, rumors circulated about Neill Blomkamp, the director of District 9, developing Alien 5. His concept involved bringing back iconic characters Ripley and Newt, aiming to address the shortcomings from Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection. This sequel was eagerly anticipated by fans who wanted a continuation more faithful to the original characters.
Sigourney Weaver, the actress behind Ripley, has often expressed support for Blomkamp’s vision. Speaking at a Q&A during the A Career Masterclass panel held at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris, she revealed her view that Sir Ridley Scott’s control over the Alien franchise was a major factor in the cancellation of Alien 5.
Sigourney Weaver Opens Up About Ridley Scott’s Role
Weaver described her admiration for Blomkamp and his compelling approach.
“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’],”
she said.
“And I loved working with Neil, and he had this idea of bringing Ripley and Newt back.”
However, she believes Scott’s tight grip on the franchise prevented the project from moving forward.
“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,”
Weaver added.
“I wish him all the best.”
Ridley Scott’s Prequel Focus and Franchise Developments
Rather than supporting Blomkamp’s sequel idea, Scott moved ahead with Alien: Covenant as a continuation of his Prometheus prequel storyline. While the prequel series was originally planned to last longer, diminishing returns at the box office combined with the Disney and Fox merger ultimately stalled this direction.
Following these shifts, 20th Century Studios launched Alien: Romulus, a fresh entry in the franchise that loosely connects to past films, featuring one notable cameo and subtle nods designed for longtime fans.
Insights on the Unmade Aliens 5 Script by Walter Hill
Weaver also mentioned that Walter Hill had written about 50 pages for the unused Aliens 5, providing some insight into the movie’s intended direction.
“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,”
she explained.
She shared curiosity about the script’s potential, noting,
“So I’m going to see what happens with Walter’s script,”
and clarified,
“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’s Perspective on the Franchise’s Future
Despite the uncertain path forward for Alien 5, Weaver continues to appreciate the franchise’s evolution. She praised Alien: Earth, highlighting its thought-provoking themes.
“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,”
she remarked.
She expressed hope for the franchise’s continued success:
“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.”
Upcoming Projects and Franchise Uncertainty
Currently, a second season of Alien: Earth is reportedly in early development, alongside an Alien: Romulus sequel. Additionally, there have been ongoing discussions about the possibility of an Alien vs. Predator crossover film. Nevertheless, the future of the franchise remains uncertain, especially regarding the return of legacy characters and continuation of storylines tied to previous movies.
