Neill Blomkamp’s Alien Sequel Will Give Ripley ‘A Proper Ending’

Fans of 20th Century Fox’s Alien franchise got some pretty exciting news last week when District 9 and Elysium helmer Neill Blomkamp confirmed that he’s going to direct a fifth Alien feature film with Sigourney Weaver planning to reprise her role as Ellen Ripley. Today, Sky Movies caught up with both talents and learned a few more details about their plans, which Weaver says will give Ripley “A proper ending.” Blomkamp hints, though, that the new film may ignore the continuity of both Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection.

“I want this film to feel like it is literally the genetic sibling of ‘Alien,'” says the director. “So it’s ‘Alien,’ ‘Aliens’ and then this movie.”

Coupled with the fact that Michael Biehn’s Corporal Dwayne Hicks appeared in the previously-released concept art (check it out in the gallery viewer below), it’s beginning to look like Blomkamp’s plans for the new film will rewrite the canon of the franchise. That’s not entirely dissimilar to what happened with Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, which essentially ignored the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. In the case of the Alien franchise, however, there are a few additional stumbling blocks when it comes to major narrative events. After all, Ripley dies in the third film and returns as a clone in the fourth. Additionally, there’s a three-decade age gap between the Ripley of Aliens and the hypothetical Ripley of the new film if we are to assume this new chapter continues directly after the events of the 1986 film. Only time will tell whether or not Blomkamp has some continuity tricks up his sleeve!

Blomkamp’s next, Chappie, stars Weaver opposite Hugh Jackman and Sharlto Copley and arrives in theaters March 6. You can check out ComingSoon.net’s recent conversation with Blomkamp right here and check out the new video featuring the director and Weaver in the player below: