What Are the Latest Developments in Alien 5?
Following the rumor that the next Alien movie is set to bring a de-aged Sigourney Weaver back as Ellen Ripley, Romulus director Fede Álvarez has responded on social media, stating, ‘Fun gossip. But not true at all.’ However, Daniel Richtman, who shared the original rumor, clarified that he wasn’t referencing the Alien: Romulus sequel but rather a new project similar to what Neill Blomkamp was trying to do.
Moreover, original Alien director Sir Ridley Scott confirmed that he is working on a separate movie late last year. Scott revealed that he is developing a new Alien movie for 20th Century Studios. Details are sparse, but THR’s report indicated that this will be a completely separate project from the sequel that’s currently in the works.
In relation to the sequel, it’s the right time to do something big for the fans. There’s a Sigourney Weaver rumor suggesting that’s what’s happening for Romulus 2. Apparently, this would involve Alien: Romulus 2 using some sort of digital de-aging, as this potential appearance would necessitate such methods.
I would absolutely love to see Sigourney Weaver return for another battle with Xenomorphs. In fact, I’m still someone who mourns the loss of Neill Blomkamp’s promising Alien 5 project, which would have given us a “present day” Ripley back in action with Michael Biehn’s very much alive l. Hicks.
Should the rumor prove true, there’s a possibility that Álvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues may use Ellen’s return to set up a very promising crossover. As both men have taken influence from Alien: Isolation, perhaps we’ll see Amanda Ripley somehow reunited with her mother—while teaming up with Rain for whatever egg-hatched hell comes next.
Finally, ALIEN: ROMULUS director Fede Álvarez responded to the rumor that Sigourney Weaver will return as Ripley. Additionally, Weaver mentioned that Alien 5 will ‘give Ripley an ending.’ With Alien: Romulus’ recent success, and Sigourney Weaver’s recent franchise comments, it feels like it’s time to resurrect Neill Blomkamp’s Alien.
Sigourney Weaver’s Involvement in Alien 5: What We Know
It’s been 44 years since Sigourney Weaver first played Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien.’ However, don’t expect her to pull a Ford/’Dial of Destiny’ and return to the role that made her an action movie icon. In a new interview with Total Film magazine, Weaver stated, “I am done with the Alien franchise and am happy to leave my iconic role.” She expressed her belief that younger actors are now taking on such roles.
Weaver had previously confirmed to Empire magazine in summer 2020 that franchise producer Walter Hill sent her a 50-page treatment for “a different take on a fifth Ripley film.” Despite this, she did not reveal the contents of Hill’s treatment and did not seem interested in returning to the franchise. She remarked, “I don’t know. Ridley has gone in a different direction. Maybe Ripley has done her bit. She deserves a rest.”
Moreover, in a recent interview with Deadline, Weaver indicated that she will likely not return to the Alien franchise. Although she left the door open for potential involvement, she mentioned being busy with other projects and asserted that Ripley has earned her rest.
Additionally, while the premise for the yet-to-be-titled new ‘Alien’ movie remains under wraps, 20th Century Studios has confirmed that the film will follow “a group of young people on a distant world, who find themselves in a confrontation with the most terrifying life form in the universe.”
Why Was Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5 Project Cancelled?
Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5 project was ultimately cancelled for several intertwined reasons:
- Despite a positive fan response and apparent enthusiasm from Fox, the production faced setbacks.
- Blokamp announced via Twitter that the film had been put on hold, stating, ‘alien is kinda holding/ pending prometheus 2. So I shall be working on other things… as much as I love the xeno- and Lt ripley.’
- In a 2017 interview with AlloCiné, Scott confirmed that Fox decided to cancel Blomkamp’s Alien 5 and that it had never developed beyond a ten-page pitch.
- There were indications of conflict between Scott’s intended sequel to Covenant and Blomkamp’s project. A.J. Black of Film Stories speculated that Fox was wary of releasing both an Alien prequel (Scott’s project) and a sequel (Blomkamp’s) in a similar timeframe.
- In June 2017, Blomkamp confirmed that the project was dead.
- In 2024, Fox executives remarked that Blomkamp’s project resembled ‘District 9, and not in a good way.’ They noted that, considering the divide between Covenant and Alien 5, Fox prioritized Scott’s project as he was seen as the ‘father’ of the Alien franchise.
- Reportedly, Blomkamp’s project was scrapped due to Alien: Covenant failing to meet expectations, which became a significant factor in the decision.
- The negative reception of Alien: Covenant contributed to the cancellation, as its underperformance was viewed as the final nail in the coffin for Alien 5.
- Additionally, it has been suggested that the cancellation was influenced by Ridley Scott’s commitment to make Covenant, which was in full production at the time.
A Look at the Concept Art for Alien 5
Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5 aka Red Harvest was once an elevator pitch made to Sigourney Weaver on the set of Chappie. This came alongside a wave of concept art that the filmmaker had commissioned on his own. This culminated in an actual development deal with 20th Century Fox to make the sci-fi film.
Blomkamp’s idea was to ignore Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. He intended to treat Alien 5 as a direct sequel to Aliens, allowing the inclusion of characters like Michael Biehn’s Hicks and an adult version of Newt, both of whom were spotted in concept artwork.
A new batch of Alien 5 concept art from artist Geoffroy Thoorens’ Art Station page has been spotted by AVP Galaxy. It features new android characters named Jax (first image seen below with Ellen Ripley) and Killson, who closely resembles Hugh Jackman.
Geoffroy’s website includes a stunning key frame image from an action sequence that features an alien queen and another type of xenomorph. Notably, Alien 5 was going to showcase multiple hybrid xenomorphs.
The film would have seen the evil corporation Weyland-Yutani acquiring one of the derelict ships filled with xenomorph eggs. Their goal was to experiment on this dangerous alien species for their weapons division, something they’ve long pursued since the original Ridley Scott film.
New concept art from Neill Blomkamp‘s cancelled Alien 5 shows the return of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Hicks (Michael Biehn), and more.
The most exciting image depicts Ripley facing off against an Alien Queen in what appears to be a mech-suit designed to resemble a xenomorph.
Is Alien 5 Still Possible? Insights from Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver has shared her thoughts on the possibility of Alien 5. She stated that she would consider reprising her role if the opportunity arose.
However, she mentioned that this topic has come up in the past, yet she has been occupied with other projects. Weaver expressed, “I feel like she’s never far away from me, but on the other hand, I have yet to read a script that said ‘you have got to do this.’ So for me, she is in this other dimension, safe from the Alien for the time being.”
She also reflected on public demand, stating, “How much does the public really need or want another Ripley movie? I don’t really sit around and think about it, but if it came up, I would consider it. It has come up a bunch of times, but I’m also busy doing other things. Ripley has earned her rest.”
Furthermore, Weaver clarified, “There wasn’t a discussion about Ripley being in it. I haven’t seen the new film. I might end up seeing it … I wish them all the best for it…”
Finally, she confirmed her decision about the franchise, stating that she is done with the Alien series and is content to leave her iconic role behind, particularly after Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5 was scrapped.
What to Expect from Alien: Romulus (2024)
From Ripley to Rain: New “Alien: Romulus” Teaser Connects Cailee Spaeny & Sigourney Weaver’s Heroines.
Spaeny stars as Rain Carradine, a young woman who makes a really, really bad decision. She tries to change up her life by ing a crew of space colonizers. They go to scavenge a decommissioned space station to find the technology they need to finally leave their doomed planet.
Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus is an interquel that bridges the gap between Scott’s 1979 masterpiece and James Cameron’s fantastic 1986 sequel Aliens.
This new look at Romulus is centered on Spaeny’s Rain, who is proudly in the mold of Weaver’s Ripley. However, she’s a different kind of survivor.
Timeline: Romulus is set roughly 20 years after Scott’s Alien and 37 years before Cameron’s Aliens. Spaeny’s Rain and her fellow would-be colonizers find themselves face-to-face-hugger with the most terrifying species in the universe.
Alvarez makes clear that Spaeny was always his first choice. Rain is desperate to get beyond Jackson’s Star, the mining colony where she lives. Her parents have died, and she’ll do anything for a fresh start. Instead, she finds herself in an unimaginable nightmare.
It’s worth noting that there are rumors about Alien: Romulus 2, which might feature a de-aged Sigourney Weaver. The mystery surrounding this rumor leaves the prospect as a mixed bag.
In conclusion, Alien: Romulus promises an intriguing addition to the franchise, exploring themes of survival amidst horror while connecting with iconic characters.
How Does Alien 5 Connect to the Overall Franchise?
Initially, the rumor was that Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez was planning to bring back Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in the next film, with de-aging visual effects being used to bring Weaver’s looks back to the age she was when filming Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens. However, Fede Álvarez confirmed that this rumor was unfounded, stating: ‘Fun gossip. But not true at all.’
The purpose of ‘Alien: Romulus’ is to serve as a soft reboot, aiming to restore the franchise’s gritty origins after mixed receptions of earlier prequels. Although there are references to previous installments, incorporating a young Ripley would create significant continuity issues, as she is in cryo-stasis right after the 1979 classic until ‘Aliens,’ which occurs nearly 60 years later.
Currently, the sequel to ‘Alien: Romulus’ exists only as a hypothetical project awaiting official confirmation from 20th Century Studios. Until then, audiences can rest assured that Ripley’s character will not be revived for another confrontation with Xenomorphs, ensuring her legacy remains intact without unnecessary rehashing.
Meanwhile, Neill Blomkamp made it clear in the early 2020s that he had moved on from any hopes of playing in the Alien universe. However, just last summer, Sigourney Weaver was saying that it’s ‘not completely impossible’ for her to make a return to the franchise.
In addition, Alien: Romulus just sold a whole new generation of fans on the Alien concept. Álvarez has already teased heading into ‘uncharted territory’ with the sequel. Furthermore, 2025 will also mark the franchise’s first TV spinoff with FX’s Alien: Earth series from Noah Hawley (Fargo). With the kind of hype currently around Alien, moving forward may be the best way to go.
On a related note, Blomkamp’s project ended up ruffling the feathers of Ridley Scott and other executives at 20th Century Studios. A creative tug-of-war ended with the studio backing Scott, greenlighting his Prometheus sequel, Alien: Covenant. When Covenant only made $240 million worldwide on a budget of $100 million, it caused the studio to place the Alien franchise on the back-burner, with Blomkamp’s film being one of the first creative casualties.
As for the details Blomkamp had teased about his Alien 5, they excited audiences, though Scott returned to the franchise to develop the Prometheus sequel Alien: Covenant. Although Ripley is a central figure in the Alien timeline and even bagged Weaver an Oscar, the star won’t be returning to the IP for one reason: the Ripley ship has sailed.
Fan Reactions to the Unraveling of the Alien 5 Project
Blomkamp released some unofficial concepts for a new Alien movie back in January. Since then, it has gone from being some polished fan art to a potential revival of a presumed dead franchise. Following the overwhelmingly positive reaction to his posts, 20th Century Fox announced they would actually make the movie. Both Sigourney Weaver and Michael Biehn confirmed they’d look to return as Ripley and Hicks, respectively.
However, it is important to note that this does not guarantee Alien 5 will be a terrible movie. It’s definitely not on the level of Terminator Genisys or Batman V Superman. Yet, there is not enough known about it to justify the already ridiculous levels of hype.
Alien fans should recognize by now that high expectations and a cool-sounding idea do not equal an exciting end product. Just look at how Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, AVP, Colonial Marines, and Prometheus all turned out. Nevertheless, this has not stopped everyone from going crazy about the idea of Blomkamp directing a xenomorph film.
Additionally, there are theories circulating among fans regarding the future of the project. Was Alien 5 really ditched, or will that story be integrated into Alien Covenant and its sequels? It seems the movie fans wanted has been overlooked.
On a personal note, one fan stated, “Is it an unpopular opinion to say that I really liked Alien 5? Hi, I’m new. I was watching the Alien franchise for the first time and was surprised to see Alien Resurrection.” This highlights the diverse opinions within the fan community regarding the franchise.
