Sigourney Weaver Believes Ripley Has Unfinished Business With ALIENS

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last year or so you undoubtedly know that there is a new "Alien" prequel in the works and that Sigourney Weaver will not be reprising her role as Ripley in it.

That being said the 61-year-old actress still feels that her infamous character still has a place in at least one future film in the long-running sci fi/horror series. She believes that the only hurdle that could stand in the way of that happening is her age, "I could definitely kick that alien's ass again. While I can't speak for them, I think for Fox, once you're 60, you're not going to be starring in an action movie.

"I think it's too bad that that's the case. I would have liked to do one last story where we go back to the planet, where Ripley's history is resolved. But I do feel like her story is unfinished."

This is without a doubt one of the coolest quotes I have ever heard!

The only thing I have to say is that if an aging Harrison Ford can still play Indiana Jones and fight Ruskies then Sigourney Weaver can still kick the shit out of Aliens .... nuff said!

100 Most Popular (Sexiest) Women In Movies, TV, SciFi And Fantasy #61- #70

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James Cameron Had To Apologize To H. R. Giger Over ALIENS

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Letters of Note

Yesterday I posted a story featuring a memo from Paramount about actors that the studio was considering for "Star Trek: The Next Generation" that I found on a wonderful blog called "Letters of Note".

Today, I decided to 'browse' the site once more, and I can across a real gem from James Cameron, where the film maker eats a real slice of 'humble pie' in regards to his use of H.R. Giger's creation in the hit film "Aliens".

It seems that Cameron figured that since Ridley Scott and 20th Century Fox had used the artist's creation in the classic scifi/horror film "Alien" that he wouldn't have to worry about a copyright issues when it came to making any potential sequels. That, however, wasn't the case, at least in Giger's eyes anyway. It seems that the artist was a bit 'bent-out-of-shape' by the fact that Cameron didn't inform him that he was going to use the design again in another film.

Apparently Giger was so upset by this, that he had his lawyer write Cameron a 'nasty-gram' to let him know about it.

In response, the film maker composed this rather classy and honest letter to Giger's representation Leslie Barany explaining that in the haste of putting the movie together he and his staff just plain forgot to contact the artist about using his monster design in yet another movie.

Basically, Cameron figured that if it was cool to use the design in "Alien", then certainly it would be okay to just keep on using it in "Aliens".

Well, we all know what happens when we assume? Right?

Anyway, Giger and his attorney didn't go after Cameron for damages. They just wanted a 'heads-up' next time.

Here is a transcript of the letter, along with a copy of the real thing:

AMERICAN GOTHIC PRODUCTIONS, INC.

February 13, 1987

Mr. Leslie Barany
[redacted]
New York, New York

Dear Mr. Barany:

I regret that the intense pressure to complete "ALIENS" did not afford me the time to reply to your letter of 3/11/86, which was on behalf of your client, Mr. H.R. Giger.

In that letter you describe Mr. Giger's 'initial sense of disappointment' at not being contacted for "ALIENS" in view of his, quite correct, intense sense of authorship of the creatures and designs. Ironically, it was the production design of "ALIEN", with its bizarre, psycho-sexual landscape of the subconscious as created by Mr. Giger, that initially attracted me to the project of a sequel. However, having been a production designer myself before becoming a director, I felt I had to put my own unique stamp on the project. Otherwise, it would have had little meaning for me a that point in my career, when I had a number of original concepts and creations which I could have pursued, with equal financial reward and an even greater degree of authorship.

I found that creating a sequel can be an uneasy exercise in balancing creative impulses, the desire to create a whole new canvas, with the need to pay proper hommage to the original. Mr. Giger's visual stamp was so powerful and pervasive in "ALIEN" (a major contributor to its success, I believe) that I felt the risk of being overwhelmed by him and his world, if we had brought him into a production where in a sense, he had more reason to be there than I did.

Because 20th Century Fox liked the story I presented to them, they gave me the opportunity to create the world I had seen in my mind as I wrote. I took that opportunity, and enlisted the aid of special effects designers, sculptors and technicians with whom I had worked before which, of course, is a natural course when one must guarantee a schedule and budget.

An additional deciding factor was Mr. Giger's conflicting involvement in "POLTERGEIST II" which unfortunately did not utilize his vision nearly as well as "ALIEN".

I offer all this commentary by way of apology and explanation in the hope that Mr. Giger can find it possible to forgive me for abducting his 'first-born'. If so, there may come a time when we can collaborate in mutual respect on some completely new and original project where the only limitation is his superb imagination.

I am, first and always, a fan of his work (a signed litho of the alien egg commissioned during "ALIEN" is one of my prized possessions).

Sincerely,

(Signed)

JAMES F. CAMERON

JC:lw



See Also: Alien Prequel Coming At Ya In 3D! / Monster Uber Geekdome- Ultraman Collages, Playing Cards & Alien vs Pooh / Aliens - Classic Alien Warrior 7-Inch Action Figure / Sigourney Weaver Has No Interest In Alien Prequel / Sigourney Weaver Is Ready For Another Encounter With Aliens / Dark Horse Resurrecting Alien And Predator Comic Book Titles / Aliens vs Predator Requiem (2007)

Sigourney Weaver Has No Interest In Alien Prequel

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

Sigourney Weaver has turned her nose up at reprising two of her most famous roles. Yesterday it was reported that the actress had backed out of her contract to once again play Dana Barrett in "Ghostbusters 3" and today she has opted not to play Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott's upcoming "Alien" prequel.

You really have to admire Weaver for not taking the easy money to reprise earlier roles in films that she thinks are sub-par.

In the case of the upcoming "Alien" prequel she really had a very strong reason for turning down another chance to play Ripley again, the part just didn't make sense in the chronology of the story.

Weaver recently told reporters, "I don't think that Ripley could appear in an Alien prequel because she doesn't have any access to the creature until the first Alien. But Ridley (Scott) is producing it and that makes me happy."

Frankly, I agree with her (again), if Ripley were to appear in a story that was supposed to happen before the original "Alien" then it would severely 'water down' the events in the first two films.

Last August I reported that Weaver was very excited about being in a new "Alien" movie, however, she did have conditions at that time for playing Ripley yet again, "I don't care whether the budget is big or small, or if it's a lead role or not. If the story's good, I'm there."

True to her word, she felt that the story wasn't right, and she turned down the part.

Good for you Sigourney Weaver! You go girl!

See Also: Sexy Female Ghostbusters Chase Sigourney Weaver Out Of Sequel / Sigourney Weaver Is Ready For Another Encounter With Aliens / Dark Horse Resurrecting Alien And Predator Comic Book Titles / Aliens vs Predator Requiem (2007)

Sexy Female Ghostbusters Chase Sigourney Weaver Out Of Sequel

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

It's looks like Dan Aykroyd's vision of an all sexy female Ghostbuster team wasn't something actress Sigourney Weaver wanted to be a part of. Just under a month after the actress had been signed on to reprise her role as Dana Barrett in "Ghostbusters 3" she surprisingly backed out.

TVSquad.com caught up with Weaver who explains, "I think they're trying to create something new completely with the Ghostbusters, although I know Bill is in it. I don't expect to have anything to do with it, although I wish them well."

I believe that it is safe to assume, that since Weaver had signed on to be in the film at about the same time that Aykroyd began talking about his all female "Ghostbusters", that she didn't quite know what she was signing on for. It looks as if the actress didn't agree with the direction that the movie series is about to take.

If indeed Sigourney Weaver backed out of "Ghostbusters 3" because she didn't want to be part of 'jiggly movie', then I don't blame her. Aykroyd's all sexy female ghost fighting team idea.....well......kinda sucks.

See Also: An All Girl Ghostbuster Team? - Say It Isn't So Aykroyd! / Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus - The Deborah Gibson Interview / It's Not Ghostbusters 3...It's A French Car Commercial / Ghostbusters 3 Behind The Scenes Footage......Maybe? / Ghostbusters 3 Is In The Early Stages Of Production?

Sigourney Weaver Is Ready For Another Encounter With Aliens

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: WENN

Sigourney Weaver has hinted that a fifth "Alien" movie may be in the works, and if Ellen Ripley has a part in it, she will be ready. Weaver made Ripley an icon in the sci-fi movie series, last playing the character in 1997's Alien Resurrection. The actress was quick to let on that the studio need not look else ware for a replacement, explaining, "I would feel very weird if they brought her (Ripley) back and cast someone else." She also insists that no one else could take on the role.

There is one catch, however, the script better be good! Weaver adds, "I don't care whether the budget is big or small, or if it's a lead role or not. If the story's good, I'm there."