Sigourney Weaver just lit the fuse on a full-scale franchise comeback, and I watched it happen in real time. On Good Morning America today, she pushed Avatar: Fire and Ash with the steady spark of a legend who still loves the game. Then she dropped an update that jolted every sci-fi fan awake. Ellen Ripley, the role that redefined sci-fi heroines, may be headed back to the screen.
Avatar: Fire and Ash takes flight
I was on the carpet at the Dolby Theatre for the December 1 premiere, and Weaver owned the night with quiet command. In Fire and Ash, she returns as Kiri, the soulful teen tied to Pandora’s deeper mysteries. Watching her play a 14-year-old at 76 is a high-wire act, but she makes it feel effortless and honest. The character lands with heart, not gimmicks.
James Cameron’s world gets bigger, darker, and stranger this round. Weaver leans in. Her work threads the film’s emotion, then kicks the story into fresh spiritual territory. Fans who fell for Kiri in the last film are going to feel seen. Parents will too.
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Avatar: Fire and Ash opens in U.S. theaters on December 19, 2025.
The Ripley question, answered with a spark
Here is the headline I can confirm today. Weaver has read the first 50 or so pages of a new Alien sequel script from producer Walter Hill, and she calls it emotionally strong. She also sat down with Fox, now under Disney, to talk about where Ripley could go next. The early material gives Ripley a human center, and a social edge, that feels true to her history.
Weaver is clear. This is not nostalgia, it is purpose. Ripley is still the worker who spoke up while everyone else kept quiet. The script understands that.
The Alien project is still in early development. No greenlight yet.
A franchise trifecta, and then some
This is not a cameo era for Sigourney Weaver. It is a resurgence. Alongside Fire and Ash, she is already on deck for future Avatar installments. The long game is set, with scripts in hand and Pandora’s next chapters mapped.
She also steps into Star Wars with The Mandalorian and Grogu, in theaters May 22, 2026, playing a New Republic colonel named Ward. Different galaxy, same authority. And next week brings a sharp left turn. Dust Bunny hits U.S. theaters December 12, a Bryan Fuller horror thriller where Weaver takes a supporting role that plays with menace and wit.
- December 12, 2025, Dust Bunny
- December 19, 2025, Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Future, Avatar 4 and 5
- May 22, 2026, The Mandalorian and Grogu
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The icon next door
Here is why this moment lands. Weaver is both a genre titan and a real person who lets us in. Her new magazine profile this month shows a woman who hikes, gardens, and laughs about family life. She talks about getting older without apology. That tone resonates with fans who grew up with Ripley, and with teens who found Kiri last time out. She bridges generations without trying to.
In Hollywood, legacy can feel like a costume. With Weaver, it feels like a living thing. She is building future chapters while reflecting on the path that brought her here. That is powerful. It is also rare.
Cultural impact, now
Ripley is the original blueprint for action heroines who think first, then fight. Kiri gives young audiences a new mirror, one that treats sensitivity as strength. Ward in Star Wars adds crisp authority to a universe that often swirls with chaos. Put them together and you see the shape of a career that keeps teaching us how to root for courage.
Rewatch Aliens before Fire and Ash. The emotional echo makes Kiri’s arc hit even harder.
What happens next
From what I am hearing, the Alien script will keep moving quietly while Fire and Ash rolls out. Weaver will carry the Avatar torch into the next entries. Star Wars is locked for spring 2026. It is a busy corridor, and it suits her. She is steering the ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does Avatar: Fire and Ash open in the U.S.?
A: December 19, 2025.
Q: Is Sigourney Weaver returning as Ellen Ripley?
A: She has read a strong new script draft and met about it. The project has not been greenlit yet.
Q: What is her role in The Mandalorian and Grogu?
A: She plays Ward, a New Republic colonel. The film hits theaters May 22, 2026.
Q: Will she appear in future Avatar movies?
A: Yes. She is slated for future installments, with scripts already in place.
Q: What else is she in this month?
A: Dust Bunny opens in U.S. theaters on December 12, 2025.
Sigourney Weaver is not chasing the past. She is writing the next act, and doing it in three universes at once. The message today is simple. The queen of sci-fi never left, and she is not slowing down.
