While Ridley Scott continues his pursuit of a third prequel to ALIEN, producer Walter Hill has drafted a story treatment for a new sequel in the iconic saga of Ripley and the Xenomorphs. Sigourney Weaver has reportedly read Hill's 50-page treatment, which could bode well for finally seeing her headline the franchise for the first time since director Jean-Pierre Jeunet's ALIEN: RESURRECTION (1997).
But, before we get all too excited, it was just in the last few years that DISTRICT 9 director Neill Blomkamp had his script for ALIEN 5 move all the way into pre-production before falling apart thanks to Ridley Scott's PROMETHEUS and ALIEN COVENANT. As the story goes, Blomkamp's version was to reunite Weaver, Michael Biehn, and Carrie Henn, who played Newt in James Cameron's ALIENS. Weaver had come forward as being very excited for Blomkamp's sequel, but alas, it was never meant to be.
Walter Hill, best known for producing and directing such films as WILD BILL, 48 HOURS, THE WARRIORS, and STREETS OF FIRE, helped develop the story for ALIENS and served as a contributing writer on the screenplay for David Fincher's ALIEN 3. His familiarity with the franchise also dates back to him producing the 1979 original alongside Gordon Carroll and David Giler. In other words, the man knows the Alien franchise like a Xenomorph knows the best hiding places for a surprise attack.
While speaking with Empire for their new Heroes Issue, Weaver revealed that she's not sure if the future of the Alien franchise hinges on bringing Ellen Ripley back to the fold.
“I don’t know,” she said. “Ridley has gone in a different direction. Maybe Ripley has done her bit. She deserves a rest.”
Despite having little interest in resurrecting her iconic character for another chapter in the Alien saga, Weaver was quick to clarify that she still holds a lot of love for the almighty Queen killer.
“I’ve always felt she was such a partner,” she says. “She is always in my stomach.” She recently came across some photos from production on Scott’s original film while cleaning her apartment. “Me with the special effects guys,” she laughed. “I’d be hanging up in the air and they would pipe me tea laced with rum to keep me going, without my asking for it! I was part of the crew, and that was something I loved. I wasn’t dressed in some little dolly dress, trying to keep clean. I was in jumpsuits looking like a grease monkey in the trenches with the crew.”
For the moment, it sounds as if the Alien franchise is in the wind. That said, Scott has expressed interest in "re-evolving" the sci-fi series, possibly with a film that focuses on the multi-mouthed Xenomorphs. If you ask me, that's the movie I'd like to see. However, if there was ever any chance that Weaver would consider coming back to the franchise, I would welcome that opportunity with open arms as well. After all, Ripley has always been the driving force of the series, and I'd literally jump at the chance to see her go boot-to-claw with another alien horde.
Would you like to read Hill's story, if presented with the opportunity? What about Ripley? Are you holding out hope that Weaver will change her mind about reprising the role if the right situation comes about? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.