The One Legacy Character Deserving A Return In The Next Alien Movie After Romulus

Laila Abdi

5 min read

Post on May 27, 2025

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Amanda Ripley's Untapped Potential

Amanda Ripley, despite her limited screen time, holds immense untapped potential for the Alien franchise. Her presence offers a unique opportunity to bridge the past with the future, creating a compelling narrative arc that resonates with both longtime fans and new audiences.

A Direct Legacy Connection

Amanda provides a direct link to the original Alien trilogy, offering a powerful emotional connection for longtime fans. Her story allows for a profound exploration of Ripley's legacy and its impact on her daughter, seamlessly weaving together the past and the future of the franchise.

• Offers a powerful emotional connection for longtime fans: Seeing Amanda grapple with her mother's legacy and the lingering shadow of the Xenomorphs creates a powerful emotional resonance.
• Allows for exploration of Ripley's legacy and its impact on her daughter: Amanda's story can delve into the psychological toll of Ripley's experiences and how they shaped her daughter's life.
• Introduces a new generation to the enduring themes of the franchise: Amanda's journey can introduce new audiences to the classic themes of survival, corporate greed, and the terrifying power of the Xenomorphs.

Unresolved Story Arcs

Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection left Amanda's story frustratingly incomplete, creating ample opportunity for compelling storytelling in a future Alien film. Her potential for character development and exploration is vast.

• Explore her reaction to learning about her mother's fate: The films only hinted at her discovery of her mother's death; a full exploration of her grief, anger, and determination for revenge would be compelling.
• Develop her relationship with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation: Given her mother's history with the corporation, exploring Amanda's relationship with Weyland-Yutani—whether as an employee, an adversary, or something in between—offers significant narrative possibilities.
• Reveal her potential latent abilities, hinting at possible Xenomorph DNA influence: The possibility of Amanda possessing latent abilities related to Xenomorph DNA offers a thrilling avenue for plot development and action sequences.

Narrative Opportunities with Amanda Ripley

Amanda Ripley's return opens doors to a wealth of thrilling narrative opportunities within the Alien universe, ensuring the franchise maintains its signature blend of horror, action, and suspense.

New Threats, Familiar Fears

Amanda's story could introduce both new Xenomorph strains and familiar antagonists, building on the established lore while still offering a fresh, exciting perspective.

• Introduce a new generation of Weyland-Yutani executives: A new cast of ruthless corporate villains could provide a fresh take on the classic antagonist, maintaining the franchise's thematic consistency.
• Explore the consequences of the events of Alien: Romulus: Connecting Amanda's story to the latest installment allows for a cohesive narrative and ensures a smooth transition into the next chapter of the Alien saga.
• Introduce a new breed of Xenomorph with unique abilities: A new Xenomorph strain would keep the franchise feeling fresh while playing to its core strengths: terrifying creatures and intense survival scenarios.

Character Development and Growth

Amanda's journey allows for exploration of profound themes of survival, resilience, and the lasting impact of trauma, deepening the emotional resonance of the Alien franchise.

• Explore Amanda's coping mechanisms and psychological scars: Her struggles with the legacy of her mother and the trauma of facing the Xenomorphs offer opportunities for compelling character development.
• Show her growth from a fearful child to a strong survivor: Amanda's transformation from a vulnerable child to a hardened survivor would be a compelling arc that resonates with audiences.
• Demonstrate her evolving relationship with the Xenomorphs: Whether she becomes a hunter, a victim, or something in between, her relationship with the Xenomorphs will provide intense conflict and compelling storytelling.

Why Other Characters Are Less Suitable

While other characters like Hicks and Newt hold a place in the Alien universe's legacy, their stories feel more complete than Amanda's. Hicks's apparent death in Alien 3 and Newt's uncertain fate leave less room for narrative expansion. Amanda, however, offers a unique opportunity for fresh storytelling while honoring the past.

• Explain why the chosen character's story feels more complete: Hicks and Newt's arcs, while impactful, leave less room for substantial new storylines compared to Amanda's significantly undeveloped storyline.
• Outline why other character's returns might feel forced or less impactful: Forcing a return for characters whose stories appear concluded might feel contrived and fail to resonate with audiences.
• Highlight Amanda's unique opportunity for new storytelling: Amanda's potential for narrative expansion is far greater than that of other legacy characters, making her the ideal choice for the next Alien film.

Conclusion

Bringing back Amanda Ripley in the next Alien movie provides the perfect blend of legacy and innovation. Her untapped potential offers a compelling narrative arc, directly connects to the franchise's rich history, and allows for exciting new story developments. To ensure the continued success of the Alien franchise, focusing on Amanda Ripley's return would undoubtedly reignite fan enthusiasm and establish a powerful new chapter for this beloved sci-fi horror classic. Let's see Amanda Ripley's story continue – demand her return in the next Alien movie!