When you think of badass sci-fi protagonists, the first face that likely pops into your head is that of Sigourney Weaver. And with good reason. Throughout her illustrious career, Weaver has starred in pop cultural touchstones like the Alien franchise, Ghostbusters, and Avatar, to name a few. In celebration of becoming one of three American actresses to receive the coveted Venice International Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, Weaver reminisced over her reign in sci-fi movies.
In an interview with Deadline, Weaver reflected upon her legacy as a sci-fi film juggernaut in the Aliens franchise and pondered whether it was in the cards for her to reprise her role as Ellen Ripley, despite previously saying she retired from the character.
“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,” Weaver told Deadline. “I don’t really think about it, but you know, it’s not completely impossible, and certainly a lot of good filmmakers are inspired by the material.”
“How much does the public really need or want another Ripley movie?,” Weaver continued. “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.”
When asked whether she’d seen director Fede Alvarez’s recently released Alien: Romulus, Weaver admitted to having not done so yet. The legacy actress said she might check it out and wished the cast and crew well. In the latter half of the interview, Weaver also confirmed her next sci-fi film ventures.
Key among them: her return in James Cameron’s Avatar 4 and 5—due in 2029 and 2031, respectively—and the long-held casting rumor that her next sci-fi venture would be the upcoming Star Wars film The Mandalorian & Grogu. Weaver further punctuated her casting in Star Wars, saying she “got to meet Grogu for the first time the other day.” When asked if her work conquering every major sci-fi property has been a fun experience, she responded in kind, saying, “Very.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Weaver said of her visit to the galaxy far, far away. “I can’t say much about it right now but it’s fun to bounce between all these different universes.’
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