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 concept 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 identified by his social media deal with DanielRPK) in a latest Patreon submit solely accessible to subscribers, claiming that the powers that be have been trying into using broadly prevalent de-aging know-how with a purpose to make this model of Ripley period-accurate, as “Romulus” befell roughly 20 years after the occasions of the unique “Alien” film.
Properly, take into account this rumor squashed. No much less an authority than “Romulus” director and co-writer Fede Álvarez confirmed as a lot in a submit made on X (the web site/app previously and nonetheless popularly referred to 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 large sigh of reduction winding all through members of the movie neighborhood, a lot of whom had good motive to stay cynical about such a controversial narrative alternative. In spite of everything, “Romulus” was the identical film that got here underneath hearth for its use of comparable de-aging tech to digitally resurrect the late, nice Ian Holm as an android antagonist — a call that Álvarez claimed was “mounted” for its house launch with a purpose to enhance on some spotty visible results work. After all, the actual concern 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 nicely 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 value diving deep into whether or not this Sigourney Weaver rumor ever actually handed the scent take a look at within the first place. “Alien: Romulus” was meant to satisfy the identical goal as a mushy reboot (though in his assessment, /Movie critic Chris Evangelista felt it performed issues a lot too secure in that regard), bringing the franchise again to its grungy, low-fi roots after a pair of divisive prequels by authentic 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 best way. In that sense, going full-circle and bringing a younger Ripley again into the combination form of checks out … however falls aside as quickly as you concentrate on it slightly 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 basic, 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 about in, a sequel could not probably incorporate a younger Ripley with out significantly screwing up the continuity of those films. (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 know-how nonetheless hasn’t come fairly far sufficient to danger 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 Method of Water.”
For now, the “Alien: Romulus” sequel stays solely a hypothetical till twentieth Century Studios formally provides it the inexperienced mild. Till that occurs, although, a minimum of we all know that Ripley can have earned her relaxation and will not be dug up out of cryo-sleep for an additional Xenomorph encounter. In different phrases? Keep away from her, you b****!
