By The final survivor of the Nostromo may not be saying farewell just yet, as information from Sigourney Weaver herself indicates that discussions have taken place regarding the return of Ellen Ripley. The lead of the Alien series attended New York Comic Con this weekend and inadvertently mentioned that not only have talks occurred, but a 50-page script from the original film’s producer, Walter Hill, has been compiled that has garnered the interest of the Xenomorph’s greatest adversary.
While addressing a crowded audience at the event (via The Hollywood Reporter), Weaver disclosed, “Walter Hill is a very close friend of mine, and he created 50 pages outlining where Ripley would be now, and they are quite remarkable. I’m unsure if it will come to fruition, but I have met with Fox, Disney, or whoever is in charge at this point,” she clarified. Whatever has been devised must have made for an engaging read, as she had done all she could with the residents of LV-426. “I mentioned that I had never felt the necessity. I always thought, ‘Let her rest, let her recuperate.’ However, what Walter has penned feels so authentic to me, representing very much the society that would confine someone who has endeavored to assist humanity.”
Although not revealing excessive detail about what this possible narrative could entail, it appeared to be a Logan-like final send-off for the genuine Alien queen. “She poses a dilemma for them, so she is somewhat hidden away. In any case, I believe it’s a very compelling first 50 pages, and I’m contemplating collaborating with Walter to determine what the remainder of the story would be.”
It is certainly a shift from one of the previous occasions Weaver discussed her role in the Alien saga since she had candidly expressed doubts about whether there was a demand for another Ripley-centric story in space. “How much does the audience genuinely require or desire another Ripley film? I don’t really spend time pondering it, but if it arose, I would contemplate it. It has been brought up multiple times, yet I’m also occupied with other projects. Ripley has earned her peace.”
Though the heroine has frequently encountered facehuggers and creatures that perpetually appear as though they’ve just emerged from the shower, now may be a fortuitous moment to reintegrate her into the story, especially considering how much Alien activity has surfaced on the radars. In addition to Alien: Romulus achieving an impressive $350.9 million against a $90 million budget, and even GamesRadar+ lauding FX’s Alien: Earth as the franchise’s most successful outing since James Cameron’s Aliens, perhaps Ripley’s return for one final encounter might not be such a poor idea after all. For the time being, if you wish to revisit