The Weekly Geek: Aliens, Aliens Everywhere

If you ask this nerd what her favorite movie of all time is, I’d immediately answer "Alien!” before launching into a twenty-minute love fest about how unique and revolutionary the 1979 horror-in-space flick truly was. Dark, terrifying, and led by one of the most likeable (and badass) female protagonists of all time, it stands the test of time better than any other sci-fi movie of the era.

You can imagine my excitement, then, when Ridley Scott (the original film’s director) came out this week and announced more details about the mysterious prequel. Actually, make that prequels – there will be two, shot in 3D, and premised on the story of the enigmatic “Space Jockey” seen briefly in the first film. Also worth noting: the protagonist will be a woman — though it will not be Ripley.

From MTV:

“It’s set in 2085, about 30 years before Sigourney [Weaver‘s character Ellen Ripley]. It’s fundamentally about going out to find out ‘Who the hell was that Space Jockey?’ The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle — there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer’s chair … And our man [Tom Skerritt as Captain Dallas] climbs up and says: "There’s been an explosion in his chest from the inside out — what was that?" I’m basically explaining who that Space Jockey — we call him the Space Jockey — I’m explaining who the space jockeys were.”

It sounds like a great direction to go in – exploring a mystery that was set up (but utterly unexplained) in a previous film, instead of doing a potentially clichéd “origin story” on a more familiar concept or character. It also sounds as if things are on track; Scott claims that he’s been looking at pages of a fourth draft screenplay, and things are on track for a release next year or early 2012.

It’s going to be a bit of a wait, but hopefully, Scott will deliver with worthy successors. Until then, peep these absolutely drool-worthy Star Wars shirts for women, part of the new Her Universe line.

“The voices of female Star Wars and science-fiction fans have been heard! Recognizing a need and a desire for merchandise created especially for the female fan, actress Ashley Eckstein — the voice of Ahsoka Tano in the hit animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars — has created a new clothing line featuring fashionable, feminine products for fangirls.”

OK, so they went a bit alliteration-heavy on the last part, but I’m totally intrigued. As a rather small specimen, I’m excited for nerdy shirts that aren’t men’s XXL sized. Plus, am I wrong, or is Ashley Eckstein totally hot? Either way, I’m in!