It’s all go on the Alien Prequel Project tonight. Or rather – it isn’t.
It seems the Alien prequel is no more, instead, rather appropriately, it has evolved into a new project, what Fox are billing as a ‘sci-fi epic’.
It’s title? Prometheus.
Details broke a few moments ago thanks to a press release from 20th Century Fox, but it appears that after the decision was made to return to the world of facehuggers and chestbursters a new story came about, something that was original and it seems Fox and Scott are abandoning the Alien name and moving ahead with this new idea.
Jon Spaihts wrote a draft of the script from an idea Ridley Scott had and then Lost’s Damon Lindelof came on board and he has been working with the director to take the project into new, and uncharted territory. The press release contains two quotes pertinent to the story, one from Scott himself, the other from Lindelof. Here’s what Ridley Scott had to say,
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
Lindelof gives us an idea of what to expect,
In a world flooded with prequels, sequels and reboots, I was incredibly struck by just how original Ridley’s vision was for this movie. It’s daring, visceral and hopefully, the last thing anyone expects.
So, no details obviously and with this detachment from the Alienverse there’s not a lot we know about this project now, other than Ridley Scott returns to sci-fi with a lead actress already signed on to lead the film. Noomi Rapace is named as the actress who will lead the film, having impressed Scott (and most of us) with her performance in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Deadline have it that Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron are interested in roles in the film, but we’ll know more soon. The release date set is March 9th, 2012.
So, no Alien prequel – news I’m happier about that I thought I would be – in my eyes the mystery of the space jockey was meant to be just that, and added immeasurably to the establishment of the Alien mythology.
Not a lot to guess with just a title – something about the origin of life perhaps? Maybe they’ll find God – that went well when Star Trek did it, right? Whatever we learn between this moment and that date in March next year there won’t be many films more anticipated than this one.
