One other day, and one other pernicious movie-related rumor has been making the rounds. This time, phrase started to buzz that twentieth Century Studios was “contemplating” the thought of bringing again acclaimed actor and franchise star Sigourney Weaver to reprise her legendary function as Ellen Ripley in the still-unconfirmed sequel to “Alien: Romulus.” This newest report got here courtesy of scooper Daniel Richtman (additionally recognized by his social media deal with DanielRPK) in a latest Patreon publish solely obtainable to subscribers, claiming that the powers that be had been trying into using extensively prevalent de-aging expertise as a way to make this model of Ripley period-accurate, as “Romulus” happened roughly 20 years after the occasions of the unique “Alien” film.
Effectively, think about this rumor squashed. No much less an authority than “Romulus” director and co-writer Fede Álvarez confirmed as a lot in a publish made on X (the web site/app previously and nonetheless popularly often known as Twitter), responding to a fan website by merely stating:
“Enjoyable gossip. However not true in any respect.”
Enjoyable gossip. However not true in any respect.
— Fede Alvarez (@fedalvar) January 23, 2025
That sound you hear might be the massive sigh of aid winding all through members of the movie neighborhood, lots of whom had good motive to stay cynical about such a controversial narrative selection. In any case, “Romulus” was the identical film that got here below fireplace for its use of comparable de-aging tech to digitally resurrect the late, nice Ian Holm as an android antagonist — a choice that Álvarez claimed was “fastened” for its dwelling launch as a way to enhance on some spotty visible results work. After all, the actual challenge needed to do with the moral questions of recreating actors who’ve died and an over-reliance on nostalgia. Compounding that downside by going proper again to the identical properly and bringing again one other fan-favorite character like Ripley would’ve been … curious, to say the least.
Regardless of the case could also be, these trying ahead to the follow-up movie to “Alien: Romulus” and nervous in regards to the prospects of a de-aged Ripley would appear to be within the clear.
A de-aged Sigourney Weaver showing as Ripley within the Alien: Romulus sequel by no means made a lot sense
So far as rumors and hypothesis go, it is price diving deep into whether or not this Sigourney Weaver rumor ever actually handed the odor take a look at within the first place. “Alien: Romulus” was meant to meet the identical function as a mushy reboot (though in his evaluation, /Movie critic Chris Evangelista felt it performed issues a lot too protected in that regard), bringing the franchise again to its grungy, low-fi roots after a pair of divisive prequels by unique director Ridley Scott left the way forward for “Alien” considerably unsure. That clearly meant enjoying the collection’ best hits, dropping references to actually each prior installment alongside the way in which. In that sense, going full-circle and bringing a younger Ripley again into the combination type of checks out … however falls aside as quickly as you concentrate on it a bit extra.
There are far too many logic and narrative holes within the tightly-drawn “Alien” timeline for this to have ever made a lot sense. Instantly after the occasions of the 1979 traditional, Ripley is caught in cryo-stasis till “Aliens” begins — which, after all, takes place practically 60 years later. Given the very particular time interval that “Romulus” is ready in, a sequel could not probably incorporate a younger Ripley with out critically screwing up the continuity of those motion pictures. (Álvarez beforehand hinted to Empire that any “Romulus” sequel would as soon as once more concentrate on Cailee Spaeny’s Rain and her surviving android bestie Andy, performed by David Jonsson.) Extra virtually, de-aging expertise nonetheless hasn’t come fairly far sufficient to threat the wrath of followers but once more by dabbling with dodgy-looking VFX. And, let’s be actual, James Cameron already beat them to the punch with his personal de-aged Sigourney Weaver character in “Avatar: The Manner of Water.”
For now, the “Alien: Romulus” sequel stays solely a hypothetical till twentieth Century Studios formally offers it the inexperienced gentle. Till that occurs, although, at the least we all know that Ripley may have earned her relaxation and will not be dug up out of cryo-sleep for an additional Xenomorph encounter. In different phrases? Avoid her, you b****!
