Cailee Spaeny is set to play the lead role in Alien: Romulus, and she's keen on paying tribute to the original star Sigourney Weaver in the new film.
In a recent conversation with Total Film (via Games Radar), Spaeny talked about her excitement for joining the Alien franchise as a huge fan.
Spaeny acknowledged that she could never replicate Weaver's performance but aimed to honour her legacy by bringing depth to her character Raines, in the upcoming Alien sequel.
Spaeny said: “I definitely did everything that I could to bring that character to life. Watching Sigourney play that role – she's part of the changing of the game that those films did.”
She continued: “I could never be her. But I injected whatever I have in me into that character, and tried to make it three-dimensional – as three-dimensional as possible. So I hope that that's there, and it comes alive.”
She specifically mentioned a scene from the trailer where her character Raines emerges from an elevator armed with a Pulse rifle, reminiscent of Sigourney Weaver's iconic Ellen Ripley.
Alien: Romulus is set between the first and second Alien movies, aiming to blend the intense horror of the original with the action-oriented approach of its sequel.
The Alien sequel is helmed by Fede Álvarez and co-written with Rodo Sayagues. The film features a cast that also includes David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
Alien: Romulus is set to release in theatres on August 16, 2024