With this weekend's release of Neil Blomkamp's Chappie, and the recent fervor over FOX's decision to greenlight another Alien film, sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver suddenly finds herself thrust back into a level of spotlight she hasn't seen since perhaps the 2009 release of James Cameron blockbuster Avatar.

With pop culture attention now firmly back on the former Ellen Ripley, it's only natural that talk has turned to Weaver possibly being involved with the upcoming reboot of that other big '80s franchise she's become indelibly associated with: Ghostbusters.Screen Rant asked Weaver how she feels about the prospect of returning - and of a Ghostbusters reboot in general - during a recent Chappie press junket in NYC:

SR: I know 'Ghostbusters' has made this huge announcement about how they are going to be continuing the franchise. But for a long time, you and the rest of the original cast were kind of on this bubble of, 'Will you guys be back?' and now they have kind of gone in this different direction. How do you feel about that?

Weaver: I think that’s awesome. I think it’s great. I think it’s going to be fantastic. I can’t wait to see it.

SR: Will we ever see you pop up anywhere in there?

Weaver: They might have us pop up as marshmallow men or something and then destroy us. I don’t know. I hope they will think of some silly way for us to be in it. Maybe I could play that ancient librarian who goes [makes noise].

signourney weaver dana barrett ghostbusters
Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett in 'Ghostbusters'

With so much of the discussion of Paul Feig's Ghostbusters reboot constantly centered on the titular team now being all-female, it would seemingly make a ton of sense for Feig and/or Sony to reach out to the actress most readily identified with the original franchise.

While she may have never outright suited up and joined the team, Weaver's character Dana Barrett was arguably the most important non-Ghostbuster in either prior film, serving as alternately an object of affection for Dr. Peter Venkman to save (in the first film) and as a proactive mom fighting for the life of her child while coming to terms with her feelings for Peter (in the second).

Of course, the extent of Weaver's involvement in Feig's Ghostbusters reboot might depend more on the writer/director's creative ambitions than the actresses' willingness to return for a cameo. Feig has stressed previously that his Ghostbusters will not exist within the same continuity as the original films, which greatly limits Weaver's potential role.

Dan-Akroyd-Says-No-Bill-Murray-Ghostbusters-3

Weaver's idea of popping up as a spook to get busted is certainly possible in this scenario, but one can't help wondering whether Feig would have been better off keeping a loose continuity in place that might have allowed a now supernaturally-experienced Dana Barrett to make a helpful cameo in which she offers advice to the young Ghostbusters.

It wouldn't even really be necessary to involve the male cast members, as Dana could be given a throwaway line about the old team being happily retired. Of course, that would violate Feig's creative edict that the two universes' not tie together much beyond the occasional sly reference, so as of now that scenario can only exist in the minds of fans. For better or worse, the new Ghostbusters will have to stand on their own.

Paul Feig's Ghostbusters hits theaters on July 22nd, 2016.

Source: Screenrant