No more Alien prequel
January 19, 2011 7:45 AM Subscribe
Alien prequel morphs into Prometheus [warning: annoying interstitial ad], the new Ridley Scott sci-fi film.
Via the awesome Strange Shapes Alien series blog.
I was hoping the Alien prequel would morph into an A Good Year sequel.
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:22 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:22 AM on January 19, 2011
I hope it's not Jolie. Theron has a million times the talent.
posted by neuromodulator at 8:30 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by neuromodulator at 8:30 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
I dunno, I'm worried. Does Ridley Scott making scifi mean Ridley Scott making a good movie again, or does it mean not-nearly-as-good-as-he-used-to-be Ridley Scott bringing his not-nearly-as-good talents to scifi?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:33 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 8:33 AM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
Yeah, I don't know what Jolie's supposed to be good at anymore. I just find her very distracting in everything she does.
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:38 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:38 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
As an Alien fan, this is killing me. I had even heard Giger was contacted. From a skeptical beginning, my faith was slowly being restored. It has now been dashed.
posted by Brainy at 8:43 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Brainy at 8:43 AM on January 19, 2011
I have problems with many of Scott's newer films, at least in terms of the plots and characters, but there's not denying his vision. Robin Hood, for all its flaws, is one of the most gorgeous period pieces I've ever seen. Makes me wish he would do a film adaptation of Shadow of the Torturer.
So I'm excited for this even if the story sucks. It'll still be a fun sci-fi ride.
posted by jnrussell at 8:43 AM on January 19, 2011
So I'm excited for this even if the story sucks. It'll still be a fun sci-fi ride.
posted by jnrussell at 8:43 AM on January 19, 2011
Bring back life form. Priority One. All other priorities rescinded.
posted by The Mouthchew at 8:51 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by The Mouthchew at 8:51 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Will I ever be allowed to post here again if I say I really enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Smith?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:53 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 8:53 AM on January 19, 2011
Bricken over at Topless Robot said it best:
• The movie started as an Alien prequel.
• Now it's not.
• Except that it's set in the same universe as Alien.
• And takes place before it.
posted by davelog at 8:58 AM on January 19, 2011 [8 favorites]
• The movie started as an Alien prequel.
• Now it's not.
• Except that it's set in the same universe as Alien.
• And takes place before it.
posted by davelog at 8:58 AM on January 19, 2011 [8 favorites]
Well I think the difference is that the events in this film don't lead to any of the events in Alien, whereas before, it was going to explain the whole Space Jockey thing.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:02 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 9:02 AM on January 19, 2011
Makes me wish he would do a film adaptation of Shadow of the Torturer.
I fervently hope no director ever gets his or her hands on those books.
posted by aught at 9:07 AM on January 19, 2011
I fervently hope no director ever gets his or her hands on those books.
posted by aught at 9:07 AM on January 19, 2011
• Except that it's set in the same universe as Alien.
Did I read a different article? Scott and Lindelof made it sound like an original work with only vague resemblances to the Alien franchise. ("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.")
posted by aught at 9:10 AM on January 19, 2011
Did I read a different article? Scott and Lindelof made it sound like an original work with only vague resemblances to the Alien franchise. ("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.")
posted by aught at 9:10 AM on January 19, 2011
“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. "
So yea, not the same universe as Alien.
I'm not much of a fan of his later work but I'll definitely go see a science fiction piece by Ridley Scott. If nothing else, it'll be great to look at.
posted by octothorpe at 9:18 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
So yea, not the same universe as Alien.
I'm not much of a fan of his later work but I'll definitely go see a science fiction piece by Ridley Scott. If nothing else, it'll be great to look at.
posted by octothorpe at 9:18 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wish it was just the same universe, that would actually make me feel better than a strict prequel. I would love it if they were connected but not in any real way, just that if you knew they took place after each other it would make sense, like Goodfellas and My Blue Heaven.
posted by Brainy at 9:35 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Brainy at 9:35 AM on January 19, 2011
I was sort of into the idea of an "Alien" prequel, but I think this has a much better chance of turning out well.
Recently, I watched two similar British series: the new "Upstairs Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey." The shows are very similar, both period dramas about servants and masters living in wealthy houses.
The original "Upstairs Downstairs" is my favorite show of all time. So I was eagerly awaiting the sequel. But while I found it okay, it pales in comparison to "Downton Abbey," a much superior show. There are several reasons it's better. But one thing that really helped it along is that it's not shackled to an earlier show.
"Downton Abbey" is made from "the same DNA" as the original "Upstairs Downstairs," but it doesn't share any of the same characters. It's just set in a similar world with some similar situations. It was able to start telling its story immediately in episode one -- on its own terms. Meanwhile, the new "Upstairs Downstairs" had to spend some time wallowing in sentiments about the old show.
posted by grumblebee at 10:05 AM on January 19, 2011
Recently, I watched two similar British series: the new "Upstairs Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey." The shows are very similar, both period dramas about servants and masters living in wealthy houses.
The original "Upstairs Downstairs" is my favorite show of all time. So I was eagerly awaiting the sequel. But while I found it okay, it pales in comparison to "Downton Abbey," a much superior show. There are several reasons it's better. But one thing that really helped it along is that it's not shackled to an earlier show.
"Downton Abbey" is made from "the same DNA" as the original "Upstairs Downstairs," but it doesn't share any of the same characters. It's just set in a similar world with some similar situations. It was able to start telling its story immediately in episode one -- on its own terms. Meanwhile, the new "Upstairs Downstairs" had to spend some time wallowing in sentiments about the old show.
posted by grumblebee at 10:05 AM on January 19, 2011
Mixed feelings and all, but don't you guys think you should be inquiring about Ridley's DP, Set Designers and Giger's involvement at this point? IIRC, this film was originally going to be directed by Karl Rinsch, who has been working for RSA a number of years now.
Ridley, at 73, is no spring chicken. Unless Rinsch is still booked to direct that Logan's Run remake at the same time that Scott is shooting Prometheus, Rinsch will be his AD.
(Looks as though Rinsch is going to have some free time, after all... )
So, at this point, we should be looking for rumors of the crew that Scott will be using on this new film. Sure, I'm disappointed that it won't be the thoroghbred Alien preqel that I'd hoped for (and Paul WC Anderson fumbled) , but it's still not 2050 and Fox has many more water-buckets to fetch.
Hopefully Rothman will reture and a new, ambitious (and semi-intellectual) fan will take over the studio and do it right.
I can hope, at least.
posted by vhsiv at 10:19 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ridley, at 73, is no spring chicken. Unless Rinsch is still booked to direct that Logan's Run remake at the same time that Scott is shooting Prometheus, Rinsch will be his AD.
(Looks as though Rinsch is going to have some free time, after all... )
So, at this point, we should be looking for rumors of the crew that Scott will be using on this new film. Sure, I'm disappointed that it won't be the thoroghbred Alien preqel that I'd hoped for (and Paul WC Anderson fumbled) , but it's still not 2050 and Fox has many more water-buckets to fetch.
Hopefully Rothman will reture and a new, ambitious (and semi-intellectual) fan will take over the studio and do it right.
I can hope, at least.
posted by vhsiv at 10:19 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was sort of into the idea of an "Alien" prequel, but I think this has a much better chance of turning out well.
I could not agree more. While there's merit to sequels sometimes, that's only true if the shared universe inspires the writers, director and actors. There nothing worse than grinding out another tired retread because the first one made a million, billon dollars. If the writers and director have a great idea, I'd much rather see that made than have the comfort of an existing franchise with everyone going through the motions.
posted by bonehead at 10:20 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I could not agree more. While there's merit to sequels sometimes, that's only true if the shared universe inspires the writers, director and actors. There nothing worse than grinding out another tired retread because the first one made a million, billon dollars. If the writers and director have a great idea, I'd much rather see that made than have the comfort of an existing franchise with everyone going through the motions.
posted by bonehead at 10:20 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
If Ridley Scott is excited about his new hard-R sci-fi/horror movie, I'm excited too.
posted by Jairus at 10:23 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Jairus at 10:23 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Maybe it's just that I saw Alien at a real young and especially imaginative age, but since hearing about this project I never saw how explaining the provenance of the Jockey could be an improvement on letting it remain a great unanswered question of the series. It opens up so many possibilities for speculation, which broadens and enlivens the universe it's set in. A pat explanation takes my imagination out of it. So this is good news to me, at least in one way.
(I also sorta wonder if this was the plan all along, and all the Alien Prequel talk was always just a trojan horse for this other movie.)
posted by churl at 10:59 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
(I also sorta wonder if this was the plan all along, and all the Alien Prequel talk was always just a trojan horse for this other movie.)
posted by churl at 10:59 AM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Much as i liked Alien, Darkstar was better than Alien.
posted by marienbad at 11:28 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by marienbad at 11:28 AM on January 19, 2011
Much as i liked Alien, Darkstar was better than Alien.
Heretic!
um...what's darkstar?
posted by cashman at 11:48 AM on January 19, 2011
Heretic!
um...what's darkstar?
posted by cashman at 11:48 AM on January 19, 2011
^I also sorta wonder if this was the plan all along...
An Original Lindelhof/Scott collaboration would have been easier to market than the spare-parts boneyard that this thing has become.
Prometheus sounds as though it's got an honest and awkward evolution.
posted by vhsiv at 11:49 AM on January 19, 2011
An Original Lindelhof/Scott collaboration would have been easier to market than the spare-parts boneyard that this thing has become.
Prometheus sounds as though it's got an honest and awkward evolution.
posted by vhsiv at 11:49 AM on January 19, 2011
I'm guessing that the "Alien DNA" that they're referring to has more to do with using similar themes and tropes than it does with being set in the Alien universe, since the details of that universe are pretty bog-standard skiffy tropes: interstellar corporation with questionable/absent ethics; interstellar peacekeeping force with ditto; grim-n-gritty gulag planet; etc. Even the "Space Jockey", while a strikingly-designed artifact in a strikingly-designed ship, is nothing more than an early clue about what happens to critters that get facehugged. If you're not going to have the xenomorphs in the show, then all you're really left with is any random SyFy movie of the week.
Now, if you're going to go for the spirit of the Alien franchise, that's something else, although the "horror movie in space" thing hasn't been done super-well that often--besides this franchise, I'd count Event Horizon, Star Trek: First Contact (although the Borg-as-zombie thing had been done previously in the series), and... what else? (I haven't seen Pitch Black or Screamers.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:51 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Now, if you're going to go for the spirit of the Alien franchise, that's something else, although the "horror movie in space" thing hasn't been done super-well that often--besides this franchise, I'd count Event Horizon, Star Trek: First Contact (although the Borg-as-zombie thing had been done previously in the series), and... what else? (I haven't seen Pitch Black or Screamers.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:51 AM on January 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just thought of Forbidden Planet and Solaris, which I haven't seen either... hmmm, should get on that Netflix thing that all the kool kidz keep talking about.
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:56 AM on January 19, 2011
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:56 AM on January 19, 2011
Pitch Black is the only Vin Diesel movie worth watching.
The sequel is fun too, but only after a few drinks and with popcorn to throw.
posted by bonehead at 12:05 PM on January 19, 2011
The sequel is fun too, but only after a few drinks and with popcorn to throw.
posted by bonehead at 12:05 PM on January 19, 2011
I wouldn't count Solaris, especially since Event Horizon is pretty blatantly the horror remake of Solaris.
posted by shakespeherian at 12:11 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by shakespeherian at 12:11 PM on January 19, 2011
I ended up having a rather odd conversation with a colleague the other day where I equated the xenomorph with Jesus. The death of the facehugger and rebirth as chestburster as well as it's presence within the heart of man and all that jazz.
It all ended up with me drawing a picture of a chestburster with a beard popping his merry head out of the mangled torso of an unlucky space trucker. It's at times like this that I wish I had a scanner. It was a truly excellent piece of artwork (to honk my own horn) and drew many a comment from people walking by my desk at work.
posted by longbaugh at 12:24 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
It all ended up with me drawing a picture of a chestburster with a beard popping his merry head out of the mangled torso of an unlucky space trucker. It's at times like this that I wish I had a scanner. It was a truly excellent piece of artwork (to honk my own horn) and drew many a comment from people walking by my desk at work.
posted by longbaugh at 12:24 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Says Lindelof: "In a world flooded with prequels, sequels and reboots, I was incredibly struck by just how original Ridley's vision was for this movie
Huh. He's surprised someone wrote something original? It's a brave new world Lindelof.
posted by P.o.B. at 12:32 PM on January 19, 2011
Huh. He's surprised someone wrote something original? It's a brave new world Lindelof.
posted by P.o.B. at 12:32 PM on January 19, 2011
I hope it's not Jolie. Theron has a million times the talent.
Part of what I like about the original is that Ripley isn't super hot. Yes, Theron can play a plain woman, but why not just get an actual plain woman?
Pitch Black is the only Vin Diesel movie worth watching.
Boiler Room?
posted by coolguymichael at 12:36 PM on January 19, 2011
Part of what I like about the original is that Ripley isn't super hot. Yes, Theron can play a plain woman, but why not just get an actual plain woman?
Pitch Black is the only Vin Diesel movie worth watching.
Boiler Room?
posted by coolguymichael at 12:36 PM on January 19, 2011
Pitch Black is the only Vin Diesel movie worth watching.
Boiler Room?
The Iron Giant.
posted by shakespeherian at 12:44 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Boiler Room?
The Iron Giant.
posted by shakespeherian at 12:44 PM on January 19, 2011 [2 favorites]
Looking forward to seeing Jolie bursting out of someone's torso and pulling back her sensuous lips in a blood-spattered hissing rictus. There wasn't enough of that in The Tourist.
Greg Nog will you STOP pulling this kind of shit already? I...I can't breathe...I'm hyperventilating from laughing too hard...
posted by dubitable at 12:58 PM on January 19, 2011
Greg Nog will you STOP pulling this kind of shit already? I...I can't breathe...I'm hyperventilating from laughing too hard...
posted by dubitable at 12:58 PM on January 19, 2011
Cool. An original idea is much more exciting than yet another sequel or prequel to something we liked in the 80s.
"I'm guessing that the "Alien DNA" that they're referring to has more to do with using similar themes and tropes than it does with being set in the Alien universe, since the details of that universe are pretty bog-standard skiffy tropes..."
Yeah, it'll probably have some of that same feeling of humanity being alone in a hostile universe, where outer space is three times colder than it would be in a film like Star Trek. The title "Prometheus" suggests something stolen from higher powers, maybe the one thing that can help our species survive.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:56 PM on January 19, 2011
"I'm guessing that the "Alien DNA" that they're referring to has more to do with using similar themes and tropes than it does with being set in the Alien universe, since the details of that universe are pretty bog-standard skiffy tropes..."
Yeah, it'll probably have some of that same feeling of humanity being alone in a hostile universe, where outer space is three times colder than it would be in a film like Star Trek. The title "Prometheus" suggests something stolen from higher powers, maybe the one thing that can help our species survive.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:56 PM on January 19, 2011
Part of what I like about the original is that Ripley isn't super hot.
If we had images, this is where I'd put the head asplosion from Scanners.
On the one hand, her being hot or not is not the important thing. On the other hand, it's probably not an accident that the hot chick survives while the plainer chick just weebles all the time until she turns into Alien Chow.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:38 PM on January 19, 2011
If we had images, this is where I'd put the head asplosion from Scanners.
On the one hand, her being hot or not is not the important thing. On the other hand, it's probably not an accident that the hot chick survives while the plainer chick just weebles all the time until she turns into Alien Chow.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:38 PM on January 19, 2011
Looking forward to seeing Jolie bursting out of someone's torso and pulling back her sensuous lips in a blood-spattered hissing rictus. There wasn't enough of that in The Tourist.
I expect that events like this were disturbingly commonplace in the Thornton/Jolie household.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:40 PM on January 19, 2011
I expect that events like this were disturbingly commonplace in the Thornton/Jolie household.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 2:40 PM on January 19, 2011
Makes me wish he would do a film adaptation of Shadow of the Torturer.
Only if we can get the Doctor to jump in the TARDIS and grab him from when he made good movies. On the upside, this is better than the other franchise news that came out today (Nolan Batman trilogy 3 likely to suck even worse than 2).
Will I ever be allowed to post here again if I say I really enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Smith?
You and me both, friend. Heretics hang together or we shall assuredly hang separately!
I'm really hoping that the non-prequel thing means it won't be a horror movie. I managed to get through Alien but I'm not a horror movie person, and I'd really love to see another good Ridley Scott movie before I die.
posted by immlass at 3:33 PM on January 19, 2011
Only if we can get the Doctor to jump in the TARDIS and grab him from when he made good movies. On the upside, this is better than the other franchise news that came out today (Nolan Batman trilogy 3 likely to suck even worse than 2).
Will I ever be allowed to post here again if I say I really enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Smith?
You and me both, friend. Heretics hang together or we shall assuredly hang separately!
I'm really hoping that the non-prequel thing means it won't be a horror movie. I managed to get through Alien but I'm not a horror movie person, and I'd really love to see another good Ridley Scott movie before I die.
posted by immlass at 3:33 PM on January 19, 2011
Part of what I like about the original is that Ripley isn't super hot
I'm not sure what universe your Alien movie took place in but if it's one where Sigourney Weaver getting ready for hibernation didn't fry my fifteen year-old self's brain, I don't want to hear about it.
posted by octothorpe at 4:08 PM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm not sure what universe your Alien movie took place in but if it's one where Sigourney Weaver getting ready for hibernation didn't fry my fifteen year-old self's brain, I don't want to hear about it.
posted by octothorpe at 4:08 PM on January 19, 2011 [3 favorites]
Not only did I enjoy Mr. & Mrs. Smith, I also liked The Tourist.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:59 PM on January 19, 2011
posted by kirkaracha at 5:59 PM on January 19, 2011
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
I mean it was Tracy & Hepburn with gunfights.
posted by shakespeherian at 6:04 PM on January 19, 2011
I mean it was Tracy & Hepburn with gunfights.
posted by shakespeherian at 6:04 PM on January 19, 2011
I'm pleased about any big budget movie not coming from a "franchise" these days. The endless amount of sequels, prequels and reboots is tiring.
posted by Harald74 at 4:23 AM on January 20, 2011
posted by Harald74 at 4:23 AM on January 20, 2011
octothorpe: "
I'm not much of a fan of his later work but I'll definitely go see a science fiction piece by Ridley Scott. If nothing else, it'll be great to look at"
Yeah, pretty much this. Ridley Scott directed my two favourite sci-fi movies of all time, but his recent work hasn't really inspired me. On the other hand I've never come out of one of his movies thinking, that wasn't much to look at.
posted by Proofs and Refutations at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2011
I'm not much of a fan of his later work but I'll definitely go see a science fiction piece by Ridley Scott. If nothing else, it'll be great to look at"
Yeah, pretty much this. Ridley Scott directed my two favourite sci-fi movies of all time, but his recent work hasn't really inspired me. On the other hand I've never come out of one of his movies thinking, that wasn't much to look at.
posted by Proofs and Refutations at 6:25 AM on January 20, 2011
Ridley Scott directed my two favourite sci-fi movies of all time
Legend and GI Jane?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2011
Legend and GI Jane?
posted by shakespeherian at 8:53 AM on January 20, 2011
Please be good.
posted by MarshallPoe at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2011
posted by MarshallPoe at 10:56 AM on January 20, 2011
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I know it might never happen and that a million things could destroy this movie, but I want it to be good.
posted by Stagger Lee at 8:06 AM on January 19, 2011