Summary
- James Cameron is open to the idea of returning to the
Alien
franchise, but he has 23 other projects in line. -
Aliens
by Cameron added new elements to the franchise while staying faithful to original themes. - Despite focusing on other projects, Cameron still influences new
Alien
movies like
Romulus.
James Cameron addresses whether he would ever return to the Alien franchise. Released in 1986, Cameron’s Aliens saw the return of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) alongside a team of trained marines after a space colony succumbs to the Xenomorph menace. Most recently, the franchise made a long-awaited return to the big screen with Alien: Romulus, as a group of young colonists stumble into a horrific scenario aboard an abandoned space station.
Cameron was asked about whether he would ever be willing to return to the Alien universe when speaking to The Guardian. While the director didn’t definitively rule out the possibility of ever making another movie for the franchise, he stated that there are some obstacles in the way. Check out Cameron’s full response below:
It’s kind of trampled ground at this point. I wouldn’t rule anything out but I’ve got 23 other projects in the queue before that hypothetical one so I’m going to guess, with me turning 70, that ain’t gonna happen. You’ve got to pick your battles at some point. You know what I mean?
James Cameron’s Aliens Is A Perfect Sequel
Cameron’s Movie Established Many Fondly Remembered Franchise Elements
With Aliens, Cameron built upon what Ridley Scott had established in the original movie, going beyond claustrophobic and shocking horror to take the fight to the Xenomorphs. Fresh off the success of The Terminator, Cameron’s sequel did exactly as the title suggests and envisions a full-blown Xenomorph outbreak, complete with the formation of hives. It also established how they could overpower even the most heavily armed regiment of Colonial Marines. Alongside an expansive setting and larger cast, the sequel also added new layers to the lore that would become franchise mainstays.
Despite veering into the action genre, Aliens remains incredibly faithful to its predecessor’s mandate, while building on both its deeper themes, subtext, and on-screen horror.
Aliens never lost touch with the original movie’s priorities, despite ramping up the threat and spectacle to more intense levels. The subtler threat of the Weyland-Yutani company continues to lurk in the background, as corporate businessmen like Burke haven’t heeded the horrors faced by the Nostromo crew, and thus sent more innocent civilians to their deaths in their pursuit of profits. Despite veering into the action genre, Aliens remains incredibly faithful to its predecessor’s mandate, while building on both its deeper themes, subtext, and on-screen horror.
Cameron’s work on Avatar has allowed him to further push the technical marvels the sci-fi genre can offer. Furthermore, while he may not have led the development of a new Alien installment, Romulus director Fede Álvarez has acknowledged that both Cameron and Scott helped him develop his movie, showing that Cameron is willing to provide some input. However, with future adventures on Pandora on the horizon in Avatar: Fire and Ash, it is clear Cameron is focused on bringing his new, more optimistic sci-fi franchise to life.
Source: The Guardian