Now that Neill Blomkamp’s place at the helm has been confirmed, fans of the Alien franchise are beginning to ponder on the casting possibilities for the director’s as-yet-untitled sequel for 20th Century Fox.
We know that Sigourney Weaver’s return is all but guaranteed, following up on the actress’ collaboration with Blomkamp on his soon-to-be-released sci-fi actioner, Chappie. But beyond that, the cast and core premise of the director’s vision is somewhat of a mystery. Yes, the stellar concept art gave us an inkling of the general direction, but both Blomkamp and the studio have remained mum on the finer details.
Despite that, during last weekend’s Pensacola Comic-Con, Reddit user Sskywarpe posited the potential of a return to the sci-fi to one Michael Biehn, who played Corporal Hicks in James Cameron’s action-packed sequel. When asked, Biehn reportedly smiled and said yes to the question, before exclaiming “looks like it!” It’s hardly a confirmation, but given how a future interpretation of his character featured in Blomkamp’s mock-ups, it’s certainly not outside the realm of possibility.
As for Weaver, the actress couldn’t be happier with 20th Century Fox’s decision to put the South African filmmaker in control of the beloved, long-running franchise. Speaking to Digital Spy whilst doing the press rounds for Chappie, Weaver touched upon his appointment and how the director is aiming for a balance between Alien‘s horror roots and the intense action of Cameron’s 1986 actioner.
“I can’t think of a better director to take this on. He loves these movies, he understands them. He knows what the fans want, and he knows these films. It couldn’t be in better hands. So I’m delighted for the series, and for Ripley, who have to be hanging around space for the rest of eternity.”
Development on Neill Blomkamp’s Alien sequel is still in the nascent stages, but that won’t stop us from speculating excitedly. So, tell us, do you foresee Biehn picking up the Pulse Rifle once more as Hicks? Give us your thoughts below.