Neill Blomkamp's Alien 5 originally did NOT involve Ripley!

I REALLY hope they don't make Neil's Aliens 2. The fact it disregards 3 and Resurrection, despite how you feel about those chapters, is not cool. You don't just retcon other peoples movies. Plus it makes the franchise look weak, like hey we'll just retcon what doesn't do well and make the narrative more convoluted then it needs to be. I know some people were disappointed with Covenant but it was a great film that united all the previous films thematically and I want to see more of that right now than Neil's Hicks and Newt fanfic. But with humanity the way it is now, I've lost faith and we'll probably get it anyway :/ Cuz easy money instead of artistic integrity right?

Well, as to whether or not the project is dead or not? My best guess is that it basically is. I think the holding onto his ideas by the studio, will amount to a completely different film. A few years after Ridley's films have been completed, I think that there will be inveitable Alien films. 

They may be holding onto the script and what not (that Blompkamp wrote) for any good ideas, or to just keep everything in house. I think Alien still has too much potential to be shelved, even after the mixed reviews/mediocre box-office performance of Ridley's Prometheus series. I like the idea that Blomkamp had a completely different Alien film, rather than a sequel to Aliens. A spinoff, I guess.

Unless someone picks up after Resurrection in the next, like, 5-10 years, then Ripley's story can't be finished on screen (imo). Otherwise, to continue in that storyline, it would have to be another batch of new characters (which I wouldn't mind at all, I would love it, but I am just saying, Ripley's story is tough to finish at this point.)

This all comes down to me being one of the people that don't support the retconning of Alien 3 and Resurrection. As a fan of both films and it just doesn't make sense to just will those two movies away. I think it is different than the retconning of Alien v. Predator (and Requiem). So, I am a bit of a hypocrite here, but the 4 Alien films are, like, they should ALWAYS be there, you know? 

@cuponator3000
Retconning Alien v Predator and Requiem is a different story. I haven't watched them yet, and I plan to, but I don't consider them a part of the main storyline. More like Freddy vs. Jason. What-if fan films.

I agree with your sentiment on the 4 original Alien films, they should just be there lol Each film has added a different layer to the Alien mythos and it would be a shame to see it devolve. Which is why I like Covenant so much, it embraces that mythos.

I'd be fine with a story set around Aliens or something in that fashion but don't retcon and let Ridley finish his story.

I think it would be interesting to have information on what Blomkamps Alien movie would have been prior to Miss Weavers input.

"It was not until Neill spoke with Sigourney Weaver on the set of Chappie did they decide to revisit the Ripley narrative once again"

Sorry Miss Weaver you asked to be killed off in Alien 3, then resurrected for Alien Resurrection, and it appears Miss Weaver likes to think the ALIEN Franchise is about RIPLEY

All she cares about is making some and Milking some $$$$ you wait until Disney think that a ALIEN 5 Blomkamp Style is the way to go, and that the Franchise is about and NEEDS Xenomorphs and Ripley to make $$$$

Then Miss Weaver asking for a Mega $$$$ Payout..

I think there is really only ONE route to expand on Ripley, which could work and not discredit the prior movies and thats MY Alien 5 idea where the Ripley 8 Clone Evolves where the Xenomorph DNA takes over, and we explore a World on Earth in a Ruined State after the Synthetic Uprising and Wars, and reveal the True Intentions of Call is her Cults persuit to obtain Ripley 8 as a Tool to Eradicate Mankind.