Sigourney Weaver is best known for her role in the Alien franchise, and her appearance in the Avatar movies only consolidated her status as a sci-fi icon. Having appeared in four movies, Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley is arguably one of the best characters in Alien, as she maintains the record for the number of Alien films a character has appeared in. Ripley also started the female lead and final girl trend in the Alien franchise, which has continued even in the most recent movie, Alien: Romulus. Therefore, her role in James Cameron’s movie, Avatar, only cemented her legacy in sci-fi.
Although Sigourney Weaver’s Avatar character, Dr Grace Augustine, died near the end of the first movie, Weaver made a reappearance in the sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, in playing the role of Grace’s daughter, Kiri. Despite her character being much younger, Sigourney Weaver delivered a fantastic performance in Avatar’s 2022 sequel, and Kiri was shown to be an important character for the future of the sci-fi franchise. However, Sigourney Weaver will become even more of a sci-fi icon in 2026 due to the recent confirmation that her next movie role will be in Star Wars’ The Mandalorian movie.
Sigourney Weaver Will Join The Star Wars Universe In 2026’s The Mandalorian Movie
Sigourney Weaver Dominates Sci-Fi In 2026
Sigourney Weaver’s casting in Star Wars’ The Mandalorian and Grogu movie has been confirmed, marking another large science fiction franchise the actor will be a part of. While details about the Star Wars movie have been somewhat scarce, in an interview with Deadline, Weaver revealed that she “got to meet Grogu for the first time the other day.” Further details surrounding her specific role are scarce at this stage, and whether she meets Grogu on-screen is uncertain, but Weaver’s involvement in another sci-fi franchise is really exciting, as she has proven herself in the genre with Alien and Avatar.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Confirmed Cast | |
|---|---|
Actor | Role |
Pedro Pascal | Din Djarin / The Mandalorian |
Steve Blum | Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios |
Sigourney Weaver | Unknown |
While rumors have circulated regarding the actor’s possible reappearance as Ellen Ripley in Alien, it does look unlikely following Alien: Romulus. However, Sigourney Weaver has confirmed that she will return to play Kiri in Avatar 4 and 5, so her presence in sci-fi will be felt much more prominently in the coming years. Furthermore, much like Marvel, Star Wars similarly has a wider universe, meaning that Sigourney Weaver could even appear in other Star Wars projects outside of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Therefore, with current roles in two large sci-fi franchises, Weaver is certainly not slowing down any time soon.
Sigourney Weaver In A Star Wars Film Is Nothing But Perfect Sense After So Many Sci-Fi Hits
Sigourney Weaver Deserves To Appear In Star Wars
Sigourney Weaver appearing in a Star Wars film makes perfect sense, considering she has been a big part of some of the best sci-fi movies of all time. With Star Wars now expanding its cinematic universe beyond the main storyline, through its many Disney+ series and upcoming movies, the franchise has never been as popular. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Sigourney Weaver to join the sci-fi franchise now, even in a minor role, as her name alone will also draw people towards The Mandalorian and Grogu in May 2026, especially with Avatar: Fire and Ash scheduled for December 2025.
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Although appearing in Star Wars is the dream of many actors, Weaver deserves the role as she has made such a large impact on the science fiction genre. Having already gained a reputation for playing Ellen Ripley in Alien, Sigourney Weaver continued her sci-fi legacy in Avatar and its sequel, which has become one of the highest grossing franchises. Consequently, after appearing in many sci-fi hits, Sigourney Weaver deserves a role in Star Wars because it is one of the main sci-fi franchises she has not yet conquered, and she has proven herself repeatedly in the science fiction genre.
Sources: Deadline
Sigourney Weaver
- Birthdate
- October 8, 1949
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA