Sigourney Weaver has inspired moviemaker Neill Blomkamp's upcoming Alien franchise film after chatting to her Chappie director about the character she played in the sci-fi blockbusters.

Blomkamp spent hours chatting to his leading lady about his vision for a new Alien film and admits she made him rethink the whole idea.

He says, "It's just something that I've always wanted to one day be a part of. Those first two films are probably my favourite films ever made. I didn't know if it would ever happen (but) I just always wanted to participate in it if I was able to.

"Over the years, I came up with a story for a film in that universe that I wanted to make. And then when I talked to her about her experience making those films and what she thought about (character) Ripley and everything else, it informed and changed the film I wanted to make into something different.

"A year later, when post-production was winding down on Chappie, I started fleshing out the idea for a film that would contain Sigourney... I just worked on it when I could. Before I knew it, I had this really awesome film with a lot of artwork and a lot of back story. And then I didn't know whether I was going to make it or not. So I just kind of sat on it for a while."

Blomkamp recently revealed he had resumed work on the Alien project amid reports he had closed a deal with 20th Century Fox bosses to take charge of a new film in the sci-fi franchise.