Scott 'to direct Alien prequel' [Prometheus]

[The_Dabbler]

Taken from the BBC news website today…

Director Sir Ridley Scott is to direct a prequel to seminal sci-fi horror film Alien, according to reports.
Trade newspaper Variety said the 71-year-old would return to the franchise he began in 1979 with actors Sigourney Weaver and John Hurt.
Sir Ridley, who is currently directing Robin Hood, has not made a sci-fi movie since Blade Runner in 1982.
He was not involved in the three Alien sequels or the two Alien vs Predator spin-offs.
It is thought the prequel will tell the story of the events leading up to the original film, in which the crew of a commercial towing ship respond to a distress signal - only to discover it was generated by an empty ship that was meant to warn them.
The film will be written by Jon Spaihts, who has also penned Keanu Reeves' space film project Passengers, after he pitched his idea for the reboot to Twentieth Century Fox and Sir Ridley's production company.
Alien, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, won an Oscar for best visual effects in 1980.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8178676.stm

[James]

They're not going to do the Alien prequels now and have turned the screenplay into an original idea for a science fiction film called Prometheus. Damon Lindelof (Lost) is writing it.

Personally I am glad. The Alien thing has been milked dry a bit, and you want to preserve some of the mysteries of the first film.


Ridley Scott Directing Prometheus
And Noomi Rapace is locked in to star

14 January 2011 | Source: 20th Century Fox

After months of rumour, speculation, whispers, sort-of news and denials aplenty, 20th Century Fox has finally come out and announced via Twitter that Ridley Scott’s next stab at science fiction will be called Prometheus and that Noomi Rapace has signed on to star.

This is the point where you raise your eyebrows and wonder what happened to the long-gestating Alien prequel. Turns out, this is what that film evolved into. After a lot of development, Scott has decided to move away from the history of the Xenomorphs and make something original.

Talking with Deadline, Scott puts some flesh on those Twitter news bones: “While Alien was indeed the jumping off point for this project, out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place. The keen fan will recognize strands of Alien’s DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative. I couldn't be more pleased to have found the singular tale I'd been searching for, and finally return to this genre that's so close to my heart.”

With Scott as the original driving force, Jon Spaihts wrote the first draft of the script, which he then worked on with former Lost show runner Damon Lindelof with the instruction to fire it off into brand new territory. "In a world flooded with prequels, sequels and reboots, I was incredibly struck by just how original Ridley's vision was for this movie,” says Lindelof. “It's daring, visceral and hopefully, the last thing anyone expects. When I sat in a movie theatre as a kid, feet raised off the floor for fear that something might grab my ankles, I never dreamed in my wildest imagination I would one day get to collaborate with the man responsible for it. Working alongside him has been nothing short of a dream come true."

Rapace, meanwhile, has long been a favourite of Scott, who was impressed by her work in the original version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. She’ll play scientist Elizabeth Shaw, one of five main roles, with the other still to be cast. Deadline’s report mentions Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron in consideration for the other big female role, named Vickers. Neither is a real surprise – Theron’s name has been bandied about before and Jolie is offered pretty much everything.

And here’s the kicker – Fox has also announced that the film will arrive on March 9, 2012. This thing is finally real, people. Even if it’s something very different now. Anyone wondering if we'll still get to see the origin of Alien's Space Jockey?
James White


http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=29898

[Omah]

Director Sir Ridley Scott is to direct a prequel to seminal sci-fi horror film Alien, according to reports.


They're not going to do the Alien prequels now and have turned the screenplay into an original idea for a science fiction film called Prometheus. Damon Lindelof (Lost) is writing it.

Personally I am glad. The Alien thing has been milked dry a bit, and you want to preserve some of the mysteries of the first film.

Yeah, I'm delighted, too - Alien was a masterpiece and the sequels mere shadows ..... :cool:

[James]

Trailer with Alien references.

W2YJ1jZbLLw

[Shaun]

ooh congrats, Scott, I didn't know you were a director

[King Gizzard]

Thought this was Scott (forum member) for a split second

[Shaun]

(but in all seriousness I'll be giving this a watch :love: only recently got into the franchise)

[Saph]

Its out June 1st in UK :amazed: I loved the Alien films so hopefully this is just as good. Plus Charlize Theron is in it and shes fabulous.


I hate the name 'Prometheus' though..

[Niamh.]

Watched this last night, I thought it was a bit s**t tbh This sums it up (Don't watch if you haven't seen the film)

-x1YuvUQFJ0

[GypsyGoth]

Watched this last night, I thought it was a bit s**t tbh This sums it up (Don't watch if you haven't seen the film)

-x1YuvUQFJ0

:laugh2: :laugh2:

I agree, it was pretty poor, and the infuriating part is that they had the cast, the director, the money and special effects to make a great movie.

[Shaun]

I kinda liked it. It wasn't amazing though.

[King Gizzard]

Wondered where he went

[GypsyGoth]

Wondered where he went

:laugh2: