Not much is known about Neill Blomkamp's new Alien film, but thanks to post from actor Michael Biehn's Instagram (which has since deleted), we now know the actor will reprise his role as Corporal Hicks.
“It’s official, I will be reprising my role as ‘Cpl.’ (Not for long …) Dwayne Hicks,” Biehn wrote in a now-removed post on Instagram, which has also coincidently been deleted. “With the go ahead, Hicks will return with Ripley in Mid 2017. Perhaps Hicks and Ripley well eventually get to second base in this one …”
Biehn actually announced his return more than two weeks ago, but it went largely unnoticed because his account has been kept private. Still, the speculation of his involvement in the project has been rumored ever since director Neill Blomkamp revealed that Sigourney Weaver will return in the role of Ripley.
Biehn's return as Hicks also solidifies Blomkamp's previous statements that the new film will pick up from James Cameron's Aliens, essentially ignoring the two sequels — Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection — that followed. Given the poor reception both follow-up films received, I'd say this is welcomed by most fans of the series who were upset over how director David Fincher handled Hicks' death in Alien 3. Not only did Fincher kill him off at the very beginning, but it was done offscreen!
According to more recent posts, filming for the Blomkamp's Alien movie should begin later this summer. Biehn recently stated that he will not be attending the Sheffield Comic-Con in August due to scheduling conflicts with the film's shoot after previously being scheduled to appear at the event earlier this year.
