Sigourney Weaver Is Done With Ellen Ripley

By
Garth Franklin
-
20th Century Studios

It’s not unexpected, but now it’s official – Sigourney Weaver is done playing Ellen Ripley from the “Alien” films.

The multiple Oscar nominee first debuted in the role in Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic and then reprised it across James Cameron’s “Aliens” in 1986, David Fincher’s “Alien 3” in 1993 and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Alien Resurrection” in 1997.

Since then, the franchise has moved on from the character, first dabbling in the poorly received “Alien vs. Predator” films before Scott returned with his two prequel films “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant”.

At one-time, filmmaker Neill Blomkamp proposed an “Alien 5” that would have had Weaver return and essentially serve as a direct sequel to “Aliens” – ignoring the events of the third and fourth films.

In a new interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), the now 73-year-old Weaver offered a definitive answer to her potential return saying she’s basically done and it’s time for new blood to take on this sort of role:

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

Cailee Spaeny is playing the lead protagonist in Fede Alvarez’s new “Alien” movie, which is currently shooting and the filmmaker released a new behind-the-scenes photo from it a few hours ago.