Sigourney Weaver Defends One of the Most Hated ‘Alien’ Sequels

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As a huge fan of the *Alien* movies, I was really interested to hear Sigourney Weaver finally speak up about *Alien 3*. She recently shared some thoughts on it during a panel at New York Comic Con – she’s 76, can you believe it? – and it sounds like she’s defending it, which is great to hear considering how divisive that sequel has always been!

Weaver praised the film for taking a fresh approach compared to earlier installments. She noted that 20th Century Fox made a good decision by consistently hiring talented directors who were willing to explore new directions with the Alien franchise.

David Fincher made his directorial debut with *Alien 3*, continuing the story of Ellen Ripley, famously played by Sigourney Weaver.

The story picks up with Ripley after her escape pod crashes on a planet that serves as a prison for dangerous men.

The movie’s script was revised multiple times. One earlier draft, written by Vincent Ward, was ultimately discarded. Sigourney Weaver explained that she didn’t like the initial version, which involved monks in space and a storyline where her character, Ripley, was mostly unconscious throughout the film.

Weaver acknowledged some difficulties during filming, but expressed strong confidence in director Fincher and high praise for everyone involved. “We had an incredible cast and crew, and that means a lot to me,” she stated. “I don’t like to compare them to others.”

She also talked about the difficult choices made in the film, like the deaths of some fan-favorite characters. “It was tough for both Ripley and me,” Weaver explained, “but that’s the reality of space – you have to keep going, and sometimes things like this happen.”

Reviews for *Alien 3* were mixed. It currently has a 44% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metascore of 59 out of 100.

While some people enjoyed the movie’s look and Andy Weaver’s acting, others found it slow and not very thrilling. Famous critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both initially disliked the film, but Ebert later admitted he appreciated its visuals.

The film drew criticism not only from general audiences but also from people closely involved with the original series, including James Cameron, Michael Biehn, and Alan Dean Foster. Cameron felt killing off important characters was disrespectful to both fans and those who had worked on earlier installments. Meanwhile, Michael Biehn sought payment for the use of footage featuring his image from previous films.

Weaver praised the filmmakers for being bold and shared how much the project meant to her, even though opinions about it were divided.

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2025-10-19 14:15