Monday 26 April 2010

Ridley Scott reveals Alien prequel in the works

This is really cool news for fans of the Alien franchise: Ridley Scott (who directed the original film in the series, Alien) has confirmed he is working on a prequel:
As we speak, I've got a pile of pages next to me; it's like the fourth draft. It's a work in progress, but we're not dreaming it up anymore. We know what the story is. We're now actually trying to improve the three acts and make the characters better, build it up to something [we can shoot]. It's a work in progress, but we're actually making the film. There's no question about it, we're going to make the film.
Scott goes on to reveal what the focus of the story will be:
It's set in 2085, about 30  years before Sigourney [Weaver's character Ellen Ripley]. It's fundamentally about going out to find out 'Who the hell was that Space Jockey?' The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle — there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer's chair. Remember that?
He also hints he has little time for the Alien Vs Predator tie-in films:
Yeah, the thing about "Alien vs. Predator" is, I know it's commerce, but what a pity.
When asked if the designer of the original alien, H. R. Giger, would be involved, Scott replied:
Yeah, he's still around. Once I get more serious and get going, and the big wheels start turning, we'll certainly talk. And maybe we'll come up with something completely different.
All things considered, this is terrific news for Alien fans. The franchise seemed dead after the disappointing Alien 3 and rather ludicrous money-spinner Alien Resurrection, but if there's one man who can breathe new life into the franchise it's Scott. Alien remains a superb horror film to this day, so if he can recapture some of the spirit of that film, it will stand this prequel in very good stead.

You get the impression that Scott wouldn't even think about doing this film unless he felt he had a decent idea worth exploring, and he's certainly got that with the space jockey. The question of who this alien was, and why they were transporting a cargo of alien eggs was never answered, so it'll be interesting to see how this storyline develops. It's good as well that Giger is on board, and the possiblity that he might come up with a new alien design is a tantalising one (though tricky as well, since a brand-new alien type/appearance would raise continuity issues).

From what Scott has revealed, I get the impression the film will be more character-orientated and pyschological, as opposed to an all-guns-blazing action romp (in other words, more like Scott's own Alien, as opposed to James Cameron's Aliens).

We'll have to wait a while to find out, since the new film won't be released until 2011/2012, but hopefully it will be well worth the wait.

In related news - this is probably old news, but it's the first time I've heard of it - a third film in the Predator franchise has been confirmed, and filming is apparently already complete.

5 comments:

Adam Whitehead said...

A new alien design wouldn't necessarily raise continuity issues. The aliens take on the physical characteristics of their hosts, so the aliens in the original movie and ALIENS walks on two legs like a human, whilst the one in ALIEN 3 is slightly smaller and runs around on all fours because it came out of a dog, whilst the aliens that originated in Predators in the AVP films take on the physical characteristics of Predators. Presumably the alien in the new film will be the one that burst out of the 'space jockey' alien, so will resemble that.

It's good news that Scott is taking on board continuity (the dating of ALIEN to 2122 AD was done later through comparisons to the dates given in ALIENS, not from Scott's original intentions in ALIEN, so it's nice he's taking that on board) and looking at the next logical stage of the franchise, going back and asking questions about the spaceship and possibly the aliens' original homeworld. The next logical step is the alien invasion of Earth, which is something they'd need a monstrous budget for and would only really be possible if this new film was a big success.

Jebus said...

The new Predators film already has several trailers and TV spots out, with Robert Rodriguez at the helm I'm a bit wary about it though - he did do Spy Kids after all.

James said...

Adam - good point about continuity. Interested to see what an alien that originated from the space jockey would look like. The alien from a predator host in AVP2 was a cool idea, but you could hardly see the damned thing because the movie was filmed in the dark.

Jebus - Yeah, from having read the plot synopsis I have doubts...but we'll see.

Iain said...

Aw Jebus,

The Spy Kids movies were great!!

What about From Dusk till Dawn, Desperado, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Sin City and indeed the much maligned but brilliant Planet Terror?? I think Rodriguez and director Nimord Antal (he should be the main character in a fantasy novel with a name like that) will produce a great movie.

I think Predators will surprise us. It is going for an R rating in the Stares, no pissy PG-13. So, I am hoping for blood and guts, guns and nasty Predators that will wipe the memory of the woeful Aliens v Predators movies from our minds.

As for the Alien prequel -- meh. Couldn't care less. Alien and Aliens are enough for me.

Iain said...

Aw Jebus,

The Spy Kids movies were great!!

What about From Dusk till Dawn, Desperado, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Sin City and indeed the much maligned but brilliant Planet Terror?? I think Rodriguez and director Nimord Antal (he should be the main character in a fantasy novel with a name like that) will produce a great movie.

I think Predators will surprise us. It is going for an R rating in the Stares, no pissy PG-13. So, I am hoping for blood and guts, guns and nasty Predators that will wipe the memory of the woeful Aliens v Predators movies from our minds.

As for the Alien prequel -- meh. Couldn't care less. Alien and Aliens are enough for me.