Confirmed: Noomi Rapace Won’t Be Back For ALIEN: COVENANT

Well, this is an interesting development: Ridley Scott has confirmed that Noomi Rapace will not be back for Alien: Covenant, formerly known as Prometheus 2.

When asked whether the Swedish beauty would reprise her role, Ridley declared "no" and added to the Daily Mail newspaper: "We're still casting the main roles."

Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender is still apparently onboard to return as David, the mischievous android who caused all manner of hijinks in Prometheus.

Word 'round the campfire is that Alien: Covenant (allegedly the first in a new trilogy of Alien films, none of which are to be directed by Neil Blomkamp) will concern a new crew of space travelers who happen upon a utopian planet seemingly populated only by David. Smart money says there's other lifeforms on that planet, of course, but what are we to make of Rapace's absence? 

Could be a scheduling conflict. Could be Rapace will pop up, and they're keeping her involvement in the film secret. Could be that she'll appear in one of the later films in this trilogy. Could be that Alien: Covenant will Newt-and-Hicks her in the opening, in a callback to the universally-beloved turn of events that kicked off Alien 3. Could be a lot of things, really, but - speaking as a borderline Prometheus apologist who's kept an eye on this project from the beginning - I'm sure as hell intrigued to find out why Shaw ain't around.

What do you guys think? Get crazy with the fan theories below.