A new video interview with Alien icon Sigourney Weaver has been uploaded by Nerdist from the recent Aliens 30th Anniversary event at San Diego Comic-Con. Though we didn't get any serious updates on the project at SDCC, Nerdist thankfully managed to score an interview with the actress and focused heavily on Alien 5.
Basically, Sigourney reveals that Alien 5 will involve everything we've come to love from an Alien movie - Facehuggers and the Alien itself being two of the big sellers. But, she also adds that Blomkamp has created some very neat, original new ideas for the franchise - ideas she seems to be backing 100%.
Weaver also reiterated that Alien 5 is absolutely still happening, but will release after Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant hits theaters.
Finally, it is clear that (at least as far as Sigourney knows) Neill Blomkamp is still the director of choice for the fifth Alien instalment. After the project was halted in favor of Ridley's Prometheus sequel, Neill announced he would he pursuing new projects. This led to fan speculation that Fox would he eyeing other potential directors for the job of bringing Alien 5 to life - especially after Blomkamp's Chappie didn't perform as well as expected at the box office. However, Weaver's comments insinuate Blomkamp is very much still involved and will likely helm the sequel when Fox eventually do take the breaks off its development.
Weaver recognizes the history and importance of Ripley as a character and is visibly excited about the prospect of getting started on the next installment, clearly wowed by Blomkamp’s take on the franchise. But, as she says, Fox has asked them to put on the brakes and give Scott’s film time to breathe.
You can watch the full interview over on Nerdist.
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.
