Sigourney Weaver Says She’s Met with Disney About ALIEN Script

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It’s been almost 30 years since Sigourney Weaver last played Ellen Ripley, the iconic character she received an Oscar nomination for – that was in the 1997 film *Alien: Resurrection*. Despite this, she’s remained closely associated with the *Alien* series. Fans have long hoped to see her battle the xenomorphs again, and a return nearly happened in 2015 with a planned *Alien 5* directed by Neill Blomkamp. That project, which would have disregarded the storylines of *Alien 3* and *Resurrection*, unfortunately didn’t come to fruition. But, according to Weaver herself at a recent event, there’s renewed possibility of her return.

Sigourney Weaver recently revealed she’s discussed a potential return to the *Alien* franchise with Disney. The conversation started after she read the first 50 pages of a script developed by Walter Hill, a longtime producer on the series. Hill, now 83, was instrumental in shaping the original *Alien* film, having adapted Dan O’Bannon’s *Star Beast* script alongside David Giler. Weaver expressed optimism about the new script’s direction.

Walter Hill, a close friend of mine, developed a 50-page outline detailing what Ripley’s story could be now. It’s really impressive work. I’ve discussed it with the current owners of the franchise – Fox, Disney, or whoever they are now – but I’m not sure if the project will move forward.

I never thought it was necessary to intervene. I always believed in giving her space to heal and recover. However, Walter’s writing really resonates with me because it highlights how our society often punishes those who try to make a positive difference.

The story presents a compelling idea: despite working to save Earth, the protagonist has become a target for Weyland-Yutani, who want to capture the xenomorph. Sigourney Weaver explained that her character is now a threat to them and has been sidelined. She believes the first fifty pages are excellent and is considering collaborating with Walter to develop the rest of the story.

With Weaver turning 76, this new script appears to be disregarding all the *Alien* films and shows that came after *Aliens*, much like Blomkamp’s planned sequel. Everything since 1997 has either taken place before or immediately after the original movie. The idea of Ripley being imprisoned since the end of *Aliens* would be unexpected, but the *Alien* franchise has always been critical of powerful corporations, so revisiting that theme today could be interesting.

Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the weekly podcast, Laser Focus, where he dives deep into pop culture. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find his Letterboxd profile to follow his latest thoughts.

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2025-10-14 01:03