‘Alien 5’ Is Still Going To Happen And Will Feature Surviving Cast Members From ‘Aliens’, According To Michael Biehn

When Alien 5 was rumored way back in the early 2000s, collective groans and sighs could be heard throughout the cinematic world. After all, Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection didn’t leave fans of the franchise with the fondest of memories, and it seemed another sequel would be as useful as flogging a dead horse. Since 2008, things have changed slightly; the sci-fi genre has developed and matured somewhat, several new and exciting directors have made their name in Hollywood, and the genre has seen a new lease of life due to several high-profile box-office smashes. Rumors of Alien 5 finally began to gain some credibility and the sequel, it seemed, was finally going to happen.

And then, in 2012, Prometheus came along and changed everything.

During its pre-production, Prometheus was mooted as the fifth Alien movie, but as things developed, the project was distanced from the Alien franchise in every way possible while still retaining a solid link to the popular movies; director Ridley Scott. However, by the time the end credits rolled, everyone’s initial suspicions were confirmed: Prometheus was a thematic prequel to the Alien franchise. The film contained its own mythos, sure, but it still took place in the same universe. Speculation has since grown to epic proportions, and Prometheus has its own sequel on the cards, but the big question remains — will we ever see Alien 5?

Well, according to actor Michael Biehn, it’s a big yes, and only a matter of time until Alien 5 graces our screens.

In an interview with Forbes, Michael Biehn — who played Corporal Hicks in Aliens back in 1986 — explained how Alien 5 is still very much a go, despite the massive delays caused by Prometheus sequel Alien: Covenant. Some were a little irked when Alien 5 was placed on the back burner to allow Covenant time to flourish. However, Michael Biehn explained that the film will still happen, and also explained how he first came to hear of the project.

“Well, she’s [Sigourney Weaver] doing the movie, Chappie, and he pitches her an idea for another movie in the Alien franchise, which I thought was dead and gone as she probably did too as well as Fox. He tweeted out some pictures of me, he said he’s going take the third and fourth film and act like they never happened and things blew up… Sigourney says they are still doing their project. I don’t know when it’s going to happen but I know it’s going to happen and I know I’m going to be in it.”

Alien 5, which is expected to be directed by Neill Blomkamp, remains a passion project for Alien stalwart Sigourney Weaver, who became a household name by starring in the original Alien back in 1979. Her performance helped to redefine the action hero, or heroine as the case may be, and opened the doors for a host of powerful female characters in cinema. Many think Alien 5 will not happen, despite the reports, but in an interview with VMWare via IndieWire, Weaver gave her thoughts on the film and confirmed its very much a go when the schedules become clear.

“Well, I think it is. Ridley asked Neill not to make our Alien ’til after ‘Prometheus 2.’ [Ridley] wanted his movie to shoot and be released first. But it’s an amazing script, and Neill and I are really excited about doing it. We’re doing other things until we can get going on that. I’d be really surprised if we didn’t do it, because it’s such a great script, and we love working together. So, it’s just going to take a little bit longer to get out to you, but it’ll be worth the wait.”

Add to this some amazing concept art from the mind of Blomkamp — some of which portrays the survivors of Aliens, including an adult Newt — and a passion for a project that is still strong more than 40 years later, and you have the recipe for a fantastic sequel. Weaver has always confessed her love for the Alien franchise, it’s no secret in the slightest, so the sooner Blomkamp and 20th Century Fox can come to an agreement the better. The fans, people who were once dreading it, are now actually excited for the project. Will their patience be rewarded? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, Alien: Covenant will be rolling into cinemas in 2017. Filming wrapped in July, and although not much has been revealed thus far, the film is already generating some buzz. Ridley Scott has managed to recapture the claustrophobia and tension seen in his pivotal 1979 original, as glimpsed in a few teaser images online, which bodes well for the future of the franchise.With a new female lead ready to face the iconic Xenomorphs, surely this is the perfect time to give Sigourney Weaver the film she cherishes?

With Alien 5 waiting in the wings, the original actors returning to their popular roles, and the franchise more popular than ever, the success of Covenant can only be a good thing for its spiritual predecessor. Alien 5 may be on hold, but much like the USCSS Nostromo, it’s anything but abandoned.

Alien: Covenant will be released on August 4, 2017.

[Image via 20th Century Fox]