From IGN:

Alien Prequel, Sequel Details

Ridley Scott will tell the S@#% out of the Space Jockey's origins.

June 14, 2010

by Phil Pirrello

Before the Alien prequel and its sequel hit theatres, we bring you some cool plot points from the man who first told us that, in space, no one can hear you scream: Ridley Scott.

At The Los Angeles Times' recent Hero Complex Film Series, Scott was on hand for a Q & A after screening 1979's Alien. The director teased some cool details regarding the story of the Space Jockey.

The first prequel will focus on the Space Jockey and how it and its ship came into contact with the aliens. The second prequel will "go to where [the Space Jockey] came from", according to Scott.

As for who, or what, the Space Jockey is? Scott says: "I think beneath that carcass...it's not a carcass, it's a suit. Inside the suit is a being." The Space Jockey is that very large man fossil that Dallas' away team found in some sort of chair thing in Alien, seemingly a victim of the alien chestburster.

The time frame of the prequel takes place way before that of Alien, and Scott will be exploring Zeta 2 Reticuli, the same system from Alien - an area of space that will play a key role in this chapter of the franchise.

The first script for the Alien prequel is written and Scott is in early pre-production on the film, which will be shot in 3D. The script status of the prequel's sequel was not confirmed at the Q & A as being complete, contrary to other reports.

So how will Scott take the Alien back to its scarier, less AVP roots? Easy: Keep it truthful.

"...I think the closer it is to the truth, the closer it is to the technological feasibility, then it becomes that much more interesting," Scott said. "And if it's a film like the one I'm going to do, then it becomes that much more frightening." (*Drops the mic*)

Ridley Scott's first reunion tour with the alien hopes to hit theatres in 2011.

Scott Talks 3D Alien Prequels

Source:shocktillyoudrop.com

June 16, 2010

For you techies out there concerned with the 3D process and those filmmakers who opt to shoot normally and convert their film to 3D, here's a bit o' something to chew on.

In an interview with AICN, Ridley Scott discussed the upcoming Alien prequels he's at work on. The director says he's not stressed about the post-conversion process (which has been utilized on Clash of the Titans).

"What's happened is the scientists have gone in the room...because it is complex. The beam-splitter, the this and the that and blah, blah, blah...it all sounds very complex," he says. "I always [camera] operate. I operated entirely on Alien, for instance. Because I'm an operator I think lenses. If you think lenses then the crossover to 3D honestly is nothing. I was told it was going to slow us down...it didn't slow [Michael] Bay down. Bay is moving like lightning. Once he realized, 'Oh, jingle...there's no difference, really. Except I'm adding dimension. They say, 'Aren't you worried about how it's going to cut?' No, because when I'm planning I think in 3D anyway. Even when I'm storyboarding the scene is already thought of in dimension. 'When he comes in there, I've got a deep two-shot. Should I cover that in singles or not? Will I need a reversal?' You're already thinking in 3D."

Sounds like he's got it handled, yes? For the full interview click here.

Lindelof Doing Rewrites on Alien Prequel?

Source: comingsoon.net

July 28, 2010

Deadline is reporting that "Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof has signed on to do rewrites on director Ridley Scott's Untitled Alien Prequel.

It will be his first solo writing gig since "Lost," an opportunity he jumped at (according to Mike Fleming's sources) because Scott's 1979 space thriller was such a huge influence on him, although Lindelof is also currently writing the sequel to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, following their collaboration on Jon Favreau's Cowboys & Aliens.

The Deadline piece goes onto report that this prequel isn't necessarily going to be Scott's next movie, as he has a couple other options including Gucci, which may team Scott with Angelina Jolie as Maurizio Gucci's ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani, an adaptation of Justin Cronin's The Passage, or The Wolf of Wall Street, which would reteam Scott with Leonardo DiCaprio with Martin Scorsese producing.

Ridley Scott Offers Alien Prequel Hints

Source: comingsoon.net

September 3, 2010

Ridley Scott offered a few specifics about his still-untitled Alien Prequel in an interview with The Independent.

"The film[s] will be really tough, really nasty," says Scott of the proposed two-part prequel, which he says will take place 30 years before the first film, "It's the dark side of the moon. We are talking about gods and engineers. Engineers of space. And were the aliens designed as a form of biological warfare? Or biology that would go in and clean up a planet?"

Scott refers to the first film's Space Jockey, part of a mysterious race of giants that carried the alien egg as their cargo. A mystery in the first film, the creature's origins have not been explored in subsequent entries to the franchise.

Two prequel films are being prepped to shoot back-to-back in 3D. The original script comes from Jon Spaihts with Damon Lindelof currently doing touch-ups.

Gemma Arterton Meeting for Ridley Scott's Alien Prequels

Source: comingsoon.net

September 6, 2010

In an interview with the British paper The Sunday Times (via Digital Spy) for her upcoming Stephen Frears film Tamara Drewe, actress Gemma Arterton told them she will be meeting with Ridley Scott about possibly starring in his planned prequels to his breakout 1979 sci-fi thriller Alien.

Apparently Scott was so impressed by Arterton's performance in J. Blakeson's The Disappearance of Alice Creed, that he wanted to meet with her for the main female role. Some will remember that Scott's casting of Sigourney Weaver as Ridley in the original Alien pretty much kicked-off her career. Who knows when this meeting may happen and if anything will come out of it, but we can't think of a better way for Arterton to show off her bad-ass side then to fight aliens.

According to the story, Arterton has also been attached to The Keys to the Street, an adaptation of Ruth Rendell's novel that was once eyed by a younger Christopher Nolan, and actor/director Richard E. Grant's British Western In with the Outlaws.

I am 100% in support of Gemma Arterton being in any movie that it's possible for her to be in.

From IGN:

The Girl With the Alien Tattoo

Rapace rumored for Ridley's prequel, but is the film in trouble?

October 1, 2010

by Jim Vejvoda

Swedish actress Noomi Rapace (the original Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) is a hot commodity in Hollywood these days, reportedly taking meetings around town on projects including McG's This Means War and Mission: Impossible IV. (She was recently cast as the female lead in Sherlock Holmes 2.) But now comes word that Rapace might be under consideration for the female lead in Fox's Alien prequel.

Scriptflags claims Rapace has met with prequel director Ridley Scott and his Scott Free production company exec Michael Costigan, where the Swedish actress is said to have professed her love for Scott's films growing up. The site speculates that they met with Rapace for the female lead in the Alien prequel, sure to be a tough chick role not unlike the one she's gained international fame for. But considering the crowded development slate Scott keeps, who knows? It could just as easily have been a meet-and-greet for any of his movies.

IGN interviewed Gemma Arterton yesterday, who wouldn't confirm, deny or comment on the recent Alien casting rumors surrounding her except to say that no offer's been made to her.

But could the movie itself already be in peril? Another story at Scriptflags claims Fox and Scott are clashing over the picture's budget and tone, with Scott wanting a $250 million R-rated film and the studio demanding a less expensive, PG-13 outing.

From IGN:

Alien After Natalie Portman

Casting news on Ridley Scott's forthcoming prequel, plus an update on the script.

UK, October 13, 2010

by Chris Tilly IGN UK

Natalie Portman is apparently in the running to play the lead in Ridley Scott's forthcoming Alien prequel.

According to Vulture, Portman is currently vying with Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace for the role of a female Colonial Marine general.

In the same article the website reports that Damon Lindelof turned in his latest draft of the screenplay at the weekend, with the script apparently aimed at a PG-13 audience.

According to the site's insider "The thinking is that if the original Alien were released today minus the F-bombs, you could still get a PG-13. Alien is a very Jaws-ian movie: There's no sex, and while there's lots of violence, most of it is off-camera. Maybe you'd have to cut away from certain scenes two seconds earlier, but it could be done."

Other details emerging include the fact that the emphasis will be on horror rather than action, and that no Predators will appear in the film.

For the full article, head over to the Vulture site.

Let Scott do his thing. I'm tired of watered down PG-13 Aliens (and Predators for that matter).

Giger Reteams with Scott for Alien Prequel

Source: comingsoon.net, AvPGalaxy

December 20, 2010

H.R. Giger, known for his prolific and baroque artwork, is reportedly returning to the Alien universe for Ridley Scott's upcoming Alien prequel.

Is this just one more cog in the rumor mill surrounding the film? Apparently not. In an interview with a German news outlet, Carmen Scheifele, Giger's wife, said the man is "on board" the production.

Giger, as you know, designed the titular creature and various other aspects featured in Scott's 1979 film.

Ridley Scott's Prometheus Coming March 9, 2012!

Source: comingsoon.net

January 14, 2011

Twentieth Century Fox announced today that Ridley Scott will direct Prometheus, an original science fiction epic, for worldwide release on March 9, 2012. The initial draft of the script was written by Jon Spaihts (The Darkest Hour) from Scott's idea. Damon Lindelof ("Lost," Star Trek) and Scott have since been working together on the current version which has expanded the story into new directions.

Story details are being closely guarded so as not to spoil surprises for moviegoers, but Scott explained the outlines of the film and its genesis as follows: "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."

"In a world flooded with prequels, sequels and reboots," said Lindelof. "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. When I sat in a movie theater 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."

Of the five major roles to be cast, Noomi Rapace is the first actor signed to star in the film. The young Swedish actress landed the role of scientist Elizabeth Shaw after Scott saw her portrayal of fictional Lisbeth Salander in the film The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, for which she was lauded by Time magazine as a 2010 Performance of the Year. Rapace starred in all three entries of the breakout global franchise based on Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy of books (The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest are the other two entries), which have collectively grossed more than $212 million worldwide.

The other major roles will be cast shortly.

From IGN:

Jolie vs. Theron vs. Alien

Oscar-winning babes batte for role in prequel, Prometheus.

January 14, 2011

by Jim Vejvoda

Fox's Alien prequel has a new title and release date, as well as two stars battling over one of the female leads in the film.

Deadline reports that director Ridley Scott and the studio have now rechristened the project Prometheus and slated it for a March 9, 2012 release.

Furthermore, the site claims Swedish actress Noomi Rapace (the original Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) is locked to play the central protagonist, scientist Elizabeth Shaw, while Oscar-winning babe Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie are in contention for the movie's other female lead, Vickers. (Michelle Yeoh was Scott's first choice for that role, but studio politics seem to have cost her the job.)

Although it started off as simply a prequel to Scott's 1979 sci-fi classic, the project -- scripted by Jon Spaihts and later overhauled by Lost's Damon Lindelof -- has transformed into a "more original" tale.

Prometheus Takes John Carter's Old Date

Source: comingsoon.net

January 26, 2011

Last week, it was announced that Walt Disney Pictures had moved Andrew Stanton's John Carter of Mars up from June 8, 2012 to March 9, 2012, putting it up against Ridley Scott's Prometheus and leaving the June 8 date empty.

20th Century Fox has easily solved that problem by moving Prometheus to June 8, 2012.

Right now, no other movie is scheduled for that date.

Fassbender Joining Prometheus?

Source: ComingSoon

January 26, 2011

Michael Fassbender appears likely to join the cast of Ridley Scott's Prometheus. Heat Vision is reporting that the role is a lock, but that has not yet been confirmed by 20th Century Fox.

The film, originally envisioned as a prequel to Scott's 1979 Alien, is a sci-fi epic described as having "strands of Alien's DNA" in the storyline and the larger fictional universe.

Already announced to star Noomi Rapace, the film was originally written by Jon Spaihts and has since been rewritten by Damon Lindelof and Scott himself. Though first announced for a March 2012 release, Prometheus now plans to target the June 8, 2012 weekend.

Fassbender will next appear in Fox's X-Men: First Class in the role of Erik Lensherr, the man who becomes Magneto (the role made famous in the original big screen trilogy by Ian McKellan).

Prometheus: Is Ridley Scott Speaking Literally When Talking About Alien DNA?

Source: ShockTillYouDrop

January 27, 2011

I'm not familiar with Sky Movies or how reliable their sources are, but an interesting report has popped up regarding Prometheus, Ridley Scott's upcoming sci-fi film starring Noomi Rapaci and Michael Fassbender.

According to Sky's sources: The film will indeed feature an "alien" after all and that H.R. Giger is at work on the design. Furthermore, the Space Jockey cockpit (seen in the first film) is being recreated. Also, a visit to the Alien home world could be in order.

"Part of the film will be shot in Morocco," says this mystery source. "I've heard that some sort of archaeological dig where they discover alien DNA takes place there and that DNA gives them the coordinates for an alien world. I've also heard Morocco is being used for alien planet landscapes so I'm not sure if it's an archaeological dig on another planet."

So, when Scott hinted that his film would contain Alien DNA, then he was speaking literally?

What do we have here. Fanboy posturing? A legitimate scoop? I've always found it hard to believe that 20th Century Fox would simply roll with an Alien prequel that morphed into something not resembling their original intentions. The Alien series is a cash cow and familiarity needs to play some part in this project.