“That Ship Has Sailed.”: Sigourney Weaver on Returning to the ‘Alien’ Franchise

With a new Alien film in active production, some fans have hoped to see Sigourney Weaver reprise her iconic Alien role of Ellen Ripley. However, Weaver is confirming that she has no plans to return to the franchise.

“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 says in an interview with Total Film magazine.

She adds, “I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. I put in my time in space!”

After starring in the 1979’s Alien, directed by Sir Ridley Scott, Weaver reprised her role in 1986’s Aliens, 1992’s Alien 3, and 1997’s Alien: Resurrection. And as Weaver mentioned, Blomkamp had previously scripted an Alien movie for 20th Century Fox. However, the project never got off the ground.

There Is a New Alien Movie in the Works

Last month, the news dropped that the next installment in the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus, was currently in production in Budapest, Hungry. The flick, which is being written and directed by Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Álvarez, will be led by The Craft: Legacy star Cailee Spaeny, in a similar role to Weaver’s Ellen Ripley.

Joining Spaeny is  David Jonsson, who recently made his feature film debut in the British rom-com Rye Lane. Archie Renaux, who starred in 2022’s The Greatest Beer Run Ever and Morbius, has also joined the cast.

Limited details are known about Alien: Romulus. However, it’s believed the movie will focus on a group of young people living in a distant colony who find themselves under attack from the fearsome Xenomorph creatures made famous by the franchise.

Despite No Plans to Return to the Alien Franchise – Sigourney Weaver Has No Plans of Retiring

Despite Sigourney Weaver’s comments about not returning to the Alien movie franchise, she’s also assuring fans she has no plans to retire from acting.

“Well, I do five projects coming out. I would hope to [not retire] because I probably enjoy it more now than ever. I’m fine that I might be the oldest person on the set,” Weaver said. “Yes, I always have to go through a period of, ‘Oh my god, it’s happening again.’ But then, I get the joy and the explosion of letting this person out to live. And it’s the most exhilarating thing in the world.”