Fede Alvarez shoots down rumors that one keyAlienfranchise actor will return to the franchise. Alvarez directedAlien: Romulus, 2024’s franchise film that did well at the box office. TheAlienfilm, also received an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects. WhileAlien: Romulusdoes pay homage to the previous movies, the franchise installment largely has a new cast that includes Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
On social media,Alvarezresponds to an online rumor surrounding the return of a key character in theAlienfranchise. Therumor alleges that the studio is considering bringing back former protagonist Ellen Ripleyto the franchise. According to Alvarez, however, this is “Fun gossip.But not true at all.”
What This Means For The Alien: Romulus Sequel
Ripley Will Not Return
Alien: Romulustakes place between the events ofAlienandAliens. As such, this means thatEllen Ripley is alive during the events ofRomulus. Neither Sigourney Weaver nor a stand-in Ripley appeared in the 2024 installment, but the announcement of theAlien: Romulussequel understandably prompted fans to wonder whether the character would make an appearance in the next film. After all, she is extremely popular, and modern de-aging technology could even allow Weaver herself to return. Alvarez’s most recent quote seems adamant that this will not happen.
Alien (1979) Ending Explained: What Happens To Ripley & The Xenomorph
Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece Alien had a somewhat confusing and symbolically significant ending, and it could still use some explaining today.
This does not mean, however, that theAlien: Romulussequel will not include any characters that reference the previous films.Alien: Romulusitself included a synthetic named Rook, who is the same model as Ian Holm’s character Ash in the original films. Though Holm died in 2020, the team usedAI and CGI in order to bring his likeness back. The sequel will not employ such technology to de-age Weaver for the film, but they could try to bring back other characters from eitherAlienorAliens.
Our Take On Ripley Not Returning For The Alien: Romulus Sequel
This Might Be For The Best
Overall, it is probably a good thing that theAlien: Romulussequel is opting against having a de-aged Weaver as Ripley. Bringing back Ripley, even for a cameo, would run the risk of the movie seeming too much like fan service. Additionally, Weaver has already been notably de-aged to play Kiri in James Cameron’sAvatar: The Way of Waterand theupcomingAvatar: Fire and Ash, so employing the same strategy for theAlien: Romulussequel could be the subject of mockery.
Alien: Romulus
Cast
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
