Sigourney Weaver talks Mandalorian & Grogu role, her future in the Avatar movies, and more

As a die-hard fan of the Alien franchise, I have been fortunate enough to witness Sigourney Weaver‘s remarkable transformation from an everyman character into an iconic action heroine. Her portrayal of Ripley has been a masterclass in versatility, and her ability to breathe life into two genre-defining hits within a decade is truly astounding.

Acting icons don’t come much bigger than Sigourney Weaver. She held down the Alien movies for two decades as Ellen Ripley, played the villain in the original Ghostbusters movie and is at the head of the Avatar series, which may end up being the most profitable franchise in film history by the time it’s done. And she took on plenty of more straightforward dramatic and comedic roles over the years, but this is WinterIsComing and we’re focusing on her role as a queen of sci-fi and fantasy, now and always.

In a detailed conversation with Deadline, Weaver discussed her dynamic career that continues to unfold. Following her portrayal of Dr. Grace Augustine in the initial Avatar film, she reprised her role as the Na’vi teenager Kiri in the sequel, The Way of Water. With three more Avatar movies on the horizon, she is featured in each one, and she confirmed, “Indeed, I believe it’s appropriate to disclose that fact.”

I remember reading the script of the first Avatar and reading about these blue people with pointed ears and tails riding on these creatures through floating mountains … I couldn’t imagine any of it being shot. I honestly couldn’t imagine how he would ever make a film that looked like this and had these elements. But I’m so glad for [director James Cameron], and for the success of these films, which has meant we’re able to keep making them. I just finished working on Avatar 3 earlier this month, actually, and I think the series will continue to grow and be more and more hard-hitting…

Sigourney Weaver teases her role in The Mandalorian & Grogu

Instead of being content with just two major science fiction series, Weaver has further secured a role in “The Mandalorian & Grogu”, an upcoming film derived from the Disney+ “Star Wars” TV program. She recently shared, “I had my first encounter with Grogu the other day.”

Despite being tight-lipped about the specifics of her part, she admitted that it’s incredibly enjoyable. “I’m eagerly anticipating it. At this moment, I can’t disclose many details, but hopping among various realities is quite a thrill.”

In “Avatar 3: Fire & Ash,” due for release on December 19, 2025, we’ll have the pleasure of seeing Zoe Saldana reprise her role as Kiri once again. Following closely is the debut of “The Mandalorian & Grogu” on May 22, 2026. With these two exciting releases, you can expect to see Zoe Saldana all over in the coming years!

The studios were “idiotic” not to support director David Fincher on the set of Alien III

With the deadline approaching, Weaver couldn’t resist discussing the Alien franchise a bit. She was the leading actress in the very first Alien movie all the way back in 1979. “It was dark, distinctive, extremely innovative, and incredibly captivating,” Weaver recalled. “As soon as I saw the designs, when I met director Ridley Scott and he showed me these Giger and Rambaldi designs, I knew I’d never seen anything like it before, which really piqued my interest. However, I don’t think any of us could have predicted that it would continue to captivate audiences in the way it has.”

What I remember most is Ridley and [director of photography] Derek Vanlint being very innovative in how they linked us all up in these tiny spaces. But I felt like a member of the crew the entire time — I’m glad I didn’t see it as a huge breakthrough opportunity. I always just looked for great stories and wanted to be a part of them, and that’s been my compass, rather than thinking about all the other aspects of the business.
What I love about it, which I think endures, is that the character of Ripley is almost an everyman character [most of the characters were written as unisex so they could be played by male or female actors]. That freed me up from ever having to act like a girl, or dress like a girl. That was very astute of the writers. At a certain point you even forget that it’s a woman. You just know it’s Ripley and you’re hoping she survives.

Actors typically only get the chance to star in one groundbreaking blockbuster during their career. However, Sigourney Weaver managed to appear in two such films within a decade, and both were part of the same series: “Aliens” in 1986 was just as impactful and influential as its predecessor “Alien”, despite having a completely distinct tone. When Weaver received the script for “Aliens”, she was filming in France. She found the role to be almost operatic for director Ridley Scott, a stark contrast from the original material. “Alien” is known for its claustrophobic, terrifying, and unsettling atmosphere, while “Aliens” offers a larger-than-life, action-packed experience with a more traditional narrative structure.

For the first time, Weaver collaborated with James Cameron on “Aliens”. Later, he was the one who invited her to join him in “Avatar”. It’s quite unusual to work with two renowned directors back-to-back within the same film series. She acknowledged that it’s challenging to compare these filmmakers as they each have unique styles. However, she can confirm that all four directors she worked with on the “Alien” films (Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet) each put their individual touch on the material.

1992’s “Alien III” was directed by David Fincher, marking a challenging period for the franchise as numerous issues arose during production. As Sigourney Weaver recollected, it seemed like Fincher had to constantly fight to execute his vision for the following day’s shoot. She regretted that he didn’t have the opportunity to shape the script before filming commenced, making the process extremely difficult. The original script by Vincent Ward centered around monks in a monastery, with Ripley in a coma for half of it. Weaver felt the absence of studio support acutely during this transition phase when studios shifted their focus from ‘let’s make great films’ to ‘let’s not lose money.’ Although it was advantageous to film in England and continue somewhat unimpeded, the lack of backing for Fincher was unfortunately short-sighted. It is unfortunate that he has since distanced himself from the project, as Weaver enjoyed working with him, and believes they produced a decent film together.

Could Sigourney Weaver return as Ripley? “It’s not completely impossible”

The Alien series remains active in today’s cinema, with Alien: Romulus making a significant impact at the box office. Actress Sigourney Weaver has hinted that there have been multiple discussions about her reprising her role as Ripley, but no compelling idea has emerged yet to prompt action. “I don’t dwell on it,” Weaver mused about a possible return as Ripley, “but you know, it’s not entirely out of the question. And with talented directors drawn to the material, there’s always a chance.”

How much does the public really need or want another Ripley movie? I don’t really sit around and think about it, but if it came up, I would consider it…[B]ut I’m also busy doing other things. Ripley has earned her rest.

One of those things includes receiving the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion award for Life Achievement. We’d say she earned it.

2024-08-28 18:42

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