Sigourney Weaver put herself on the map with her performance as Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott's 1979 classic Alien, later returning to the role in Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien: Resurrection.
Understandably, the actress wasn't part of prequel movies Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, though fans remain keen to see more of Ripley on screen. Noah Hawley's TV series is an unlikely destination when it too is set in the past, but Evil Dead filmmaker Fede Alvarez is currently in the midst of shooting a mystery new movie (which we got a first look at yesterday).
Talking to Total Film, the Avatar: The Way of Water star dismissed the idea of returning to the role in that or any other upcoming project.
"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 said of the scrapped Alien 5. "I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. I put in my time in space!"
"I think Ridley [Scott] has a lot to do with [the longevity of Ellen Ripley and Alien]. 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."
At 73, we can appreciate why Weaver feels now is the right time to pass the torch to a younger group of actors who can help move this franchise forward. Cailee Spaeny, for example, will lead Alvarez's movie alongside Isabela Merced.
There's a multitude of ways Ripley could return, whether it be through a different actress playing her, de-ageing VFX, or one final action-packed ride for Weaver. However, the franchise moving on could be for the best, something Ridley's prequel movies made clear.
Stay tuned for the latest on the Alien franchise's future as we have it.