For many years since the atrocity that was 1997's Alien Resurrection star Sigourney Weaver has rallied for a return to the franchise that made her the Hollywood star she is today. Before the release of 2004's equally dismal Alien vs Predator James Cameron, writer and director of the 1986 second instalment of the franchise; Aliens, had been working on a possible sequel, but when the crossover movie was released he stopped working on the project, stating to Aint It Cool at the time that the crossover would "kill the validity of the franchise".
Despite the abominations known as the AVP movies, Weaver has always continued her vocal support at another possible instalment. So it comes as no surprise that with the recent news of a new sequel, helmed by District 9 and Elysium director Neill Blomkamp, Weaver has once again become very vocal about the project.
While promoting her new movie Chappie (which opens in theatres tomorrow) made under the direction of Blomkamp, Weaver continues to show support for the directors vision of a new movie in the franchise that will also see the return of former co-star Michael Biehn...
“I can’t think of a better director. He’s a real fan. I think he’ll be true to the world and take it in unexpected directions. It’s got a lot of sinew in it. It will certainly stand up to the others and probably break a lot of new ground as well.”
“Suddenly it seemed so obvious that this would happen. We’ve been in touch the last year and he’s shared wonderful artwork.”
Additionally, the South African director, while also promoting Chappie, mentioned of his eagerness to begin production on the much talked about Alien sequel...
“I would love to make something in that world because the films use terror and dread and filmmaking techniques that are different than what I’ve dabbled in before.”
Neill Blomkamp's Alien 5 project was inevitably canceled following the merger between 20th Century Fox and Disney. Blomkamp had hoped to revive characters Hicks and Ripley for a new film, rewriting the Alien timeline, chalking up Alien 3 and Resurrection to mere bad dreams. Studio executives decided to can the project and instead took the franchise in a new direction, tapping Fede Alvarez to direct Alien: Romulus.
Neill Blomkamp's Alien 5 is indefinitely shelved.
