Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Alien’ Film Secures Sigourney Weaver
It wasn’t long ago that Neill Blomkamp took to Instagram to post some concept photos of an Alien film he could have been working on and then abandoned. However, it seems the tides have turned in Blomkamp’s favor and, in the past couple of days, news has been rolling in continuously about the South African director directing a fifth installment in the Alien franchise. Not only that, but it seems the rumors are true: Signourney Weaver will be reprising her role as Ripley.
Sky Media was able to get in touch with both Neill Blomkamp and Sigourney Weaver regarding the announcements, and it seems that everything will be moving forward with the idea that Ripley will receive a “proper ending” to her tale. During the talk, Blomkamp hinted to the fact that his film may ignore the continuity of the last two Alien films in the franchise, Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection.
“I want this film to feel like it is literally the genetic sibling of ‘Alien.’ So it’s ‘Alien,’ ‘Aliens’ and then this movie.”
Some of the concept art also revealed that Corporal Dwayne Hicks (played by Michael Biehn of Terminator fame) will be in Blomkamp’s film, further alluding that he aims to ignore the last two films. Fans are already sounding off on Twitter about the announcement, and it has been met with positive remarks.
To be honest I couldn’t be happier about the #Alien5 news because it looks like the director understands how Alien should be. #Alien
— David Hull (@DHull47) February 26, 2015
Some fans aren’t so sure though that Blomkamp should let Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection fall to the wayside.
I didn’t like ALIEN 3 very much when I first saw it, but it’s grown on me over the years. Sad to see it go. #Alien5 #retcon
— William Joselyn (@willjoselyn) February 26, 2015
For better or for worse, I’m not so sure that pretending Alien 3 and Resurrection never existed is the best way of doing things #Alien5
— Simon Potvin (@potvin_simon) February 26, 2015
This wouldn’t be the first time that a directors version of a film aims to erase a part of a previously established canon. Recently, the end of Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past saw the change of the X-Men film universe as we knew it, effectively ‘erasing’ the existence of every film after his first X-Men movie that came out in 2000.
Blomkamp, known for other sci-fi ventures including District 9 and Elysium, has shown that he understands the complicated world that science fiction can be, and could very well be the perfect directorial candidate for the newest in the Alien franchise. With his new film Chappie, another romp in a sci-fi environment about to hit theaters on March 6, its not certain when we will hear more about Blomkamp’s work on Alien, but fans everywhere are eagerly waiting for more updates.
[Image via Instagram]
