The Official Prometheus (Alien Prequel) Thread

[Nexus]

It'll fall exactly into what Star Wars has.
You get the story before in todays gorgeous CGI and everything looks amazing and then steps into the 70s.

I don't think they will go that way with this film though.

The trouble with Lucas and the new Star Wars trilogy was that he went overboard with all the new technology that had emerged in the second half of the nineties.

He shot with digital cameras when they were pretty much in their infancy, as was the DI process. I wonder whether he would have really done the same today, rather than shooting on film so that you get the lovely look of the grain and colour spectrum it can hold, with the DI process making it much easier to manage and be creative.

Then you had the fact that the majority of the film was shot infront of green screens in order to put in matte painting as back drops on nearly every scene, again without the film grain it just looks too perfect and sharp. The old Star Wars films all used models, which looked great.

The film also was full of CG characters which have come on a long way since then, and thus look a lot better as a character in their own right than they did back then. Plus you also had characters, such as C3PO making moves which are unnatural to that of the character we already know.

I think Scott would certainly be mindful of repeating such mistakes and will want something that mirrors the look of Alien, which is actually a long way from that of the style of Star Wars anyway.

 

[Fenris]

So I guess Prometheus is going to be completed before he gets round to completing The Forever War?

I was under the impression he hadn't started Forever War, I'm pretty sure the screenplay isn't even finished yet.


Also good to hear it's a brand new concept, can't wait.

 

[SixTwoSix]

A bit of new news here. It seems as though the Alien prequel which they decided was no longer going to be an Alien prequel but instead a stand alone sci-fi called Prometheus will actually be...an Alien prequel!

According to the insider, he "can confirm seeing 3 aliens having lunch. Not the whole costume but blueish costumes and the unmistakable heads hanging around their shoulders. The alien heads were the same shape but no markings, only a plane bronze colour. As for the suits black boots and shoulder pads the rest was a Chelsea blue body suit could be for SFX, all the sets around the back of the bond stage have huge green chromokey maybe that's a clue.I have witnessed foam cut outs of unmistakable aliens all cut in half lengh ways so they could be in the floor walls etc and very much from the original film."

News here: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/24262

 

[oxygene]

Damn thats a shame. Its been too long since a good director put their mind to a fresh franchisable sci fi.

 

[SixTwoSix]

Sweet...one of my favorite actors is now onboard...

The boys over at CHUD just landed a monster scoop as they're reporting multiple sources confired that Guy Pearce - Memento, The Hurt Locker, The Road, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and many, many more insane films - will be starring in Ridley Scott's now filming Prometheus, the presumed prequel to his classic 1979 Alien.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/24344

 

[medley]

Good news! Usually a good sign if top quality actors jump on board if the script looks good

 

[No1newts]

Give a real suspense horror ofAlien. Adda dab of Aliens action or just don't bother at all.

If it ends up like ressurection I will hunt him down.

 

[L1ght]

Ok just a little update on Prometheus, Guy Pearce is now confirmed for the new Alien film!

More good news for the casting, lets hope this turns into a really great film, Scott has obviously been able to convince these actors he means buisness.

Link: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/confirmed_guy_pearce_joins_ridley_scotts_prometheus/

 

[SixTwoSix]

Ok just a little update on Prometheus, Guy Pearce is now confirmed for the new Alien film!

More good news for the casting, lets hope this turns into a really great film, Scott has obviously been able to convince these actors he means buisness.

Link: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/confirmed_guy_pearce_joins_ridley_scotts_prometheus/

Take a look 3 posts above yours

 

[SixTwoSix]

More Alien: Prometheus goodness

Clint: You keep saying this “Alien” prequel is still an “Alien” prequel – of some sort. What do you mean?

Mare Look, it’s guesswork but everything we’ve heard up till this point – even from the actors in the film – suggest it’s still very much a prequel to the original film. Damon Lindelof was hired to rewrite an “Alien” prequel and ultimately handed in a film that didn’t much resemble one. So does this mean there’s no nods or references in the script to anything from Ridley’s 1979 film? Not at all; In fact, many have said they’ve already seen concept designs and sets being built that look awfully familiar. So why the change of title, press release (to say “it’s no longer Alien”) and misinformation campaign? I’d say it’s got a lot to do with “Alien 3″ – despite the title, it wasn’t an “Alien” movie and audiences responded accordingly. I’m guessing “Prometheus” is going to be littered with links to the first “Alien” but, like Fincher’s artysy convict caper, it’s also going to be so tonally different and be much more of a character piece than “Alien” (or “Aliens”) fans would like. Fox don’t want to make the same mistake again. Maybe once the early reviews start coming out, and if they’re favourable, Rothman might advise the marketing department to add “Alien” into the title, i.e “Alien : Prometheus”. Again, just a guess. Even if that guess is wrong, the “Alien” series will continue – in another form. I don’t know much, but I’ve heard whispers that sequels (to the original quadrilogy – Ripley’s story) might be back on the cards; the whole ‘Alien Planet’ idea is still very much something everyone over at Fox and Scott Free are interested in. You ain’t see the last of Facehugger.

Linky http://www.moviehole.net/201141115-ask-clint-may-17

 

[SixTwoSix]

A really interesting interview here with Damon Lindelof which sheds a little light on why/how this is an Alien prequel.

Wall of text follows, have highlighted in bold the most interesting parts to myself.

""It started as an Alien prequel. That is what everybody wanted it to be. Obviously, Ridley Scott has not made a science fiction movie in 25 years, since Blade Runner, so the idea that he’s returning to this genre is huge. But there is a real issue which is — what is the state of the Alien franchise at this point in our lives? There has been Alien vs. Predator and all these things, and its been completely and totally diluted. I’ve always felt that really good prequels should be original movies. And the sequels to those prequels should not be the movie which already exists because, with all due respect to anyone who makes a prequel, but why would you ruin the greatest twist in the history of cinema, “Luke, I am your father”, by showing me three movies which basically spoil that surprise. You can do movies which take place before Star Wars, but I don’t need to see the story of the Skywalker clan. Show me something else which I can’t guess the possible outcome of. There is no suspense in inevitability. So a true prequel should essentially proceed the events of the original film, but be about something entirely different, feature different characters , have an entirely different theme, although it takes place in that same world. That was my fundamental feeling about what this movie wanted to be.

And truth be told, it wasn’t script doctoring in the strictest sense because the draft that existed before I came on was written by this guy named Jon Spaihts and it was very good. And there were a lot of things in the movie, Prometheus, which were Jon Spaihts and I feel like somewhere in the media reconstruction of this story, the tale is that I come in, I pitch an entirely new story, and its so original that everything else gets thrown out and that’s what we’re doing. In my brain, that’s not exactly what happened. But I also do feel that this movie is the movie I would want to see as a fanboy, take place in that Alien universe, which precedes the events of the original Alien, but is not necessarily burdened by all the tropes of that franchise with Facehuggers and Chestbursters, and all that stuff that I love… but its sorta like, we’ve seen it before, can we do something different this time? And thats the movie that Ridley wanted to make. And when you’re working with an auteur, you basically just shut your mouth and listen and try to transcribe and channel the vision of that person, and get out of the way.

So I read it, and it was good. This was not a disaster. There were really good ideas in that script. So I sent off an email…. Ridley works with these guys, Michael Ellenberg and Michael Costigan. I basically sent them an e-mail and said, here is what I think, and here is what I would do, if you were interested, and the next morning … I get the call and they are like “We like your take, can you come in to Scott Free?” I walk into a room and there is Ridley Scott and an executive at Fox and I verbally present, here is everything in the script that I like now, here’s some of my thinking on it — what’s the lay of the land? What are the issues that you guys are having? And we have a great 90 minute meeting in which I do a lot of listening. Again, I don’t want to say I went in and WOWed them, when what really happened was I gave a really short presentation and then Ridley talked about the movie he wanted to make. And then, they decided to hire me. I had to go down to Fox and talk to Tom Rothman about what I wanted to do as well.

And then Sir Ridley Scott and I, and Michael Ellenberg, sat in a conference room for four hours a day, three days a week, and sort of went over it, again and again and again until I understood exactly what he wanted to do and I wrote it. It took me two weeks to write it, not a lot of time — the time consuming part was the collaboration because he thinks, and I know this sounds like I’m brown-noising but, Ridley Scott is a true genius and he thinks in visual terms far beyond the comprehension of mortals like us but also understands story and mood and tone."

Source: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/25146

 

[NathanE]

I can't wait for this movie. It's going to be awesome

Ridley Scott + sci-fi = <3

 

[SixTwoSix]

Seems as though the plot for Prometheus may have been revealed, the following details are not confirmed or denied, so take with a pinch of salt.

I personally hope that the story does follow what has been "leaked"...sounds just like what i'd want from an Alien "prequel"

POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOLLOW

"Earth. Year 2058.

Archaeological digs in Africa reveal alien artifacts that humans were genetically engineered by a advanced alien race (space jockeys). These "Alien Gods" also terraformed Earth in order to make it habitable for their human creations. Amongst finds are coordinates to the Alien God's home-world, to Paradise. Months later the Weyland Corp launch the spaceship PROMETHEUS and his crew, into deep space to make first contact. Thanks to faster than light travel a few years later the PROMETHEUS enters the Zeta Riticuli star system. Humans are greeted by their makers, then transported further into space to a scary yet fascinating world. The Alien Gods are proud of their "children", their first creation to reach such levels of intelligence.

As a reward they share bits of their astonishing bio-based technologies with the humans. But for one crew member of the Prometheus it's not enough. In a treacherous act he steals the "bio-source code" to Terraforming, a technology at the origin of all Gods' power, that could make humans equal to the gods. The Alien Gods may be scientists but are also ruthless conquerors, destroyers of worlds who will not accept humans as equals. They unleash on the escaping human crew their favorite bio-weapon, a creature used to "clean up" worlds before colonization. But something goes wrong in the process and humans manage to turn the bio-weapon against their makers. Giving birth to a smarter, nastier, bigger breed of gut eating creatures. Creatures that will be the demise of Paradise. What's left of the Prometheus crew manages to escape the doomed planet.

On their trail a survivor Alien God in very familiar ship with one ultimate mission.

Bring the wrath of the Gods to Earth."

So essentially in my eyes the Aliens weren't as fierce to begin with, they hatch from the jockeys and become worse, the "survivor alien god" is the jockey we see on LV-426 in Alien...sounds good

 

[krisboats]

That sounds pretty good. Given the way scott and the script writers have been talking about their intentions with the film i think I'd be inclined to see this on opening night.

 

[Demoniser]

Those leaked plot details do seem to make some sense, especialy if anyone knows Their greek mythology.

Prometheus

He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals.[2] Zeus then punished him for his crime by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. His myth has been treated by a number of ancient sources, in which Prometheus is credited with – or blamed for – playing a pivotal role in the early history of mankind.

Certainy makes some sense if the story of the movie is a parallel to the greek myth

Instead of fire, its technology, and instead of an eagle it will be the aliens/xenomorphs, with the humans taking on the role of prometheus, and th space jockeys taking on the role of zeus.

 

[robgmun]

Seems as though the plot for Prometheus may have been revealed, the following details are not confirmed or denied, so take with a pinch of salt.

I personally hope that the story does follow what has been "leaked"...sounds just like what i'd want from an Alien "prequel"

POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOLLOW

"Earth. Year 2058.

Archaeological digs in Africa reveal alien artifacts that humans were genetically engineered by a advanced alien race (space jockeys). These "Alien Gods" also terraformed Earth in order to make it habitable for their human creations. Amongst finds are coordinates to the Alien God's home-world, to Paradise. Months later the Weyland Corp launch the spaceship PROMETHEUS and his crew, into deep space to make first contact. Thanks to faster than light travel a few years later the PROMETHEUS enters the Zeta Riticuli star system. Humans are greeted by their makers, then transported further into space to a scary yet fascinating world. The Alien Gods are proud of their "children", their first creation to reach such levels of intelligence.

As a reward they share bits of their astonishing bio-based technologies with the humans. But for one crew member of the Prometheus it's not enough. In a treacherous act he steals the "bio-source code" to Terraforming, a technology at the origin of all Gods' power, that could make humans equal to the gods. The Alien Gods may be scientists but are also ruthless conquerors, destroyers of worlds who will not accept humans as equals. They unleash on the escaping human crew their favorite bio-weapon, a creature used to "clean up" worlds before colonization. But something goes wrong in the process and humans manage to turn the bio-weapon against their makers. Giving birth to a smarter, nastier, bigger breed of gut eating creatures. Creatures that will be the demise of Paradise. What's left of the Prometheus crew manages to escape the doomed planet.

On their trail a survivor Alien God in very familiar ship with one ultimate mission.

Bring the wrath of the Gods to Earth."

So essentially in my eyes the Aliens weren't as fierce to begin with, they hatch from the jockeys and become worse, the "survivor alien god" is the jockey we see on LV-426 in Alien...sounds good

Now that.....i like!!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Like the sound of it. Love all of the Alien films and even have my fair share of props from them lol.

Im in the camp 'leave alone, you will just ruin it'.

Make it a stand alone and leave it at that!

 

[Marsman]

Sounds interesting. I'm just glad they are doing something slightly different with this film. Even if it isn't great, I don't care! After those blasted AvP films, this film will be a classic in comparison.

 

[SixTwoSix]

I'm glad a bunch of others are liking the sound of this as much as I do

I get the feeling we'll just get a few peaks of the "alien" and they won't overdo it too much, reckon this will be heavily character driven. *crosses fingers!

 

[Demoniser]

I'm glad a bunch of others are liking the sound of this as much as I do

I get the feeling we'll just get a few peaks of the "alien" and they won't overdo it too much, reckon this will be heavily character driven. *crosses fingers!

That's what makes Alien and Aliens so great, most of it is suspense (especially the first film). It really is a case of less is often more with scary monsters.

Just think of the Motion Tracker, beep...beep....beeep..beep..beep.beep.beep...

It works much better than somethig jumping out at you every five minutes for shock value.