Even with all the speculation and behind-the-scenes gossip that has been making headlines since last year, it's still heartbreaking to learn that Ridley Scott's Alien Prequel is officially dead. Whether it was Scott's ego, casting issues, the budget spiraling out of control, or something completely different, Fox has given the franchise prequel the axe... well, sort of. In the wake of its ashes rises Prometheus, which seems to be the same premise, slightly retooled, and devoid of the Alien universe.
This move seems to have relieved a source of supposed tension between the studio and Scott, as Noomi Rapace, the director's choice for the lead, is sticking with the film during the transition, presumably in the same capacity. I think in the coming months, it'll be interesting to see if the actors rumored to be circling the project show up in its reincarnated state - including Michelle Yeoh, James Franco, and Michael Fassbender.
According to Scott, the project shifted gears because it took on a life of its own, growing far beyond the constraints of the already established universe. "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." Only time will tell if it was because of Damon Lindelof's (Lost) involvement, since it was previously reported that when brought in for a rewrite job "the exchange of ideas between [Lindelof, Scott, and Fox] sparked a take that could well turn out to be a free-standing science fiction film."
The studio has so much faith in it that they've already given it a release date: March 9, 2012. With all the conflicting reports over the past few months, one can only hope that Prometheus' DVD special features will include a massive documentary explaining the transition and what exactly Scott had to say or do for Fox to change courses in reviving one of their most popular franchises.
I wonder if Giger is still involved. Even if this isn't an Alien movie, a new Giger creature to add to the list of horror/sci-fi monsters wouldn't be bad!
hmm. don't exactly know how to feel. on one hand i'm happy that another alien movie isn't going to be made because, let's face it, it would probably suck. on the other, an "original" alien movie might not be all THAT bad. i totally agree with magnaderalpha, a new giger creature would be a great idea.
I don't find this heartbreaking at all. I'm very excited actually. Scott did warn us before that they could come up with something different since he thought the Alien design had lost its novelty. This is no surprise. And while it may not be a prequel anymore, the genre remains the same. Scott himself said this new movies was 'return to the genre he loved'.
At least they aren't doing a prequel which takes the mystery out of the original. I like stories where everything isn't overly explained and characters show up at the aftermath of a baffling conflict. That's why The Thing remake is a bummer, it's just telling us a story which we've already put together a million times in our heads. We all know where it's going to end up.
Scott is an AWESOME director and I kinda dig "prequels".
So, it IS sad.
Guess I'll just pop-in my BluRay of Scott's original and appreciate what I've got.
I'm a little disappointed; I'd rather it be a true Alien flick than a clone of one. And it would've made for a nice trilogy between the prequel and the first two.
i was really waiting for a ALIEN movie to come since 1997 when ALIEN RESURRECTION came out and I read that the door was wide open to a brand new ALIEN flick until now I'm very shocked but at least I read one of the ALIENS books and found out that the Alien ship was revealed from ALIENS: ORIGINAL SIN by Call about the ship and the creatures and at least i really don't need a Alien flick to refresh my mind or I would like to see a Alien movie called PROMETHEUS which is a creature film myself and who wants to see ALIEN PREQUELS?
Oooooo no, so sad!!
i was really waiting for the new alien movies!!! No more fake allien PROMETHEUS MOVIE, THIS IS GONNA SUCK. THE FANS LET THIS MOVIE FALE I HOPE ;)
I was never a HUGE fan of Alien but I do love Sci Fi movies. I can't wait to see another Alien esque type movie. I hope Michael Fassbender gets the role. He's a terrific actor.
Huh. Well, I'm in the minority that was hoping for another good Alien film from scott and find this very disappointing to the point of profanity. I understand if there was an Alien prequel, there's a good chance it would have sucked, but we might have actually gotten another cool alien movie too. And now we certainly wont get another cool Alien movie.
i totally backed the idea of a ridley scott-helmed alien prequel, but honestly, this sounds a thousand times more intriguing. what an awesome idea, to take the notion of a prequel a degree further, deconstructing a premise so thoroughly that it no longer falls within the parameters of the universe from which it's derived? purely rad.
Probably the best way to go in all honesty, something original. Yeah abit sad for the alien creature not jumping out at me anymore. But it did lose it's scare factor after Aliens, even though I do have a fondness for 3 and 4 (except the daft new born in 4, what was up with that comedy nose?).
Anyway having a new creature with an even larger insatiable blood lust would be terrific, if that's even possible?
Well, I'm glad that the leaked plot is now no longer being applied to the Alien franchise, but I will say this: Ridley Scott promised to give us another Alien movie, and now he's backed out of that ... so I wish failure upon this new project. I know there's little left to do with the Alien idea, especially due to where it was taken with Alien Resurrection, but my god, I need more!
Ridley and Giger do not need another film full of Human x Xeno hybrids runnign around. The science of the idea was always much more facinating and the other creatures within Giger visions were always so much more visceral and disturbing once Aliens had topped the glorification of the Xenomorph.
A new title and history is exactly what is needed and I am hoping the only look back or even homage is the appreance or science behind the Pilot in the cockpit character who haunts and facinates me beyond the Alien franchise. Prometheus will be darker, threatening, facinating and frightening for horror fans who have seen everything in the last decade of Sci Fi and horror cinema.
What does the face huggers original egg layer look like before human contamination? Why did Dallas become a Cocoon? What is the source of the DNA strand. Why did the ship crash? and much more.
Excited much?
Comments Page 1 of 2 | Next -> | Last ->> You have to be logged in to comment! If you don't have an account register now for free! Your account allows you to post comments and reviews, upload videos and images, access or our forums, write personal blogs, and maintain your profile.
