Academy Award-nominated actress Sigourney Weaver remains open to revisiting her iconic role as Ripley in the Alien franchise following a recent script development by producer Walter Hill. During her appearance at New York Comic Con, she shared insights about Hill’s writing, which includes 50 pages detailing Ripley’s current status and challenges.
Weaver remarked, “Walter Hill is a very good friend of mine, and he wrote 50 pages where Ripley would be now, and they are quite extraordinary. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I have had a meeting with Fox, Disney, or whoever it is now. I said I have never felt the need [to return]. I was always like, ‘Let her rest, let her recover.’ But what Walter has written seems so true to me as very much about the society that would incarcerate someone who has tried to help mankind.”
Reflecting on her journey with the franchise that solidified her status in the science fiction genre, Weaver emphasized the significance of strong storytelling over genre constraints. She stated, “I’m an English major, so I just read for the story. If it’s a good story, I don’t care what genre it’s in. I never really thought about genres. I just thought of good stories. Now genres are a much more well-defined thing, but I’m glad I didn’t really think about it. I’m glad I followed this story.”
Weaver also credited the unexpected choice of a female lead, Ripley, for her survival, a move shaped by writers Hill and David Giler. “I think there was probably some dismay in the cast that this complete unknown who’d never really made a movie before was going to be the survivor. And the reason I was the survivor was our writers thought no one will ever imagine that the survivor will be a woman,” she recounted, eliciting applause from the audience.
As conversations about the possible sequel unfold, Weaver expressed her excitement for the future, indicating she may collaborate with Hill to explore the full potential of the story. “I think it’s a very strong first 50 pages, and I’m thinking about working with Walter to see what the rest of the story would be.”
Weaver’s appearance at the convention sparked nostalgic conversations about her groundbreaking role in a film that, while initially considered a B-movie, reshaped the landscape of sci-fi cinema. “I feel very lucky that my first film was that. I think it helped the movie that we never rehearsed, we shot on film, and that gives a free-for-all feeling that I think was very good for the film,” she concluded, showcasing her appreciation for both the creative freedom and the profound impact of Alien on her career.
As the franchise continues to captivate audiences across generations, fans await further developments with hope for Weaver’s return to the role that has become synonymous with her illustrious career.
Based on reporting by Hollywood Reporter. Read the full story at Hollywood Reporter.