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Ridley Scott Talks Prometheus

There’s a new article in the latest issue (Feb 2012) of Empire Magazine and they’ve spoken to Ridley Scott. Fortunately, forum member Gazz has transcribed the article for us. Here’s the important bits:

Barring a beach scene in the long cut of Alien 3, the new film will feature the franchise’s first genuine exterior, with Iceland’s black lava fields providing the new planet’s hardscrabble surface (LV-426 was created on a soundstage). Thematically, too, it’s gone big. This is God versus Science, and  the survival of not just the crew (most of whom probably don’t) but mankind itself. In other words, there is a whole 2001-vibe going on. “It’s gone off in a new direction,” boasts Scott “, but I promise it will engage you in the first five minutes.”

The crew of the Prometheus (the ship’s name designed to echo the Greek myth) follow a perplexing message to a planet that will open their eyes and their chests to a new alien race. “A crew of scientists embark on a journey somebody else is paying for,” says the director, referring to the fact Charlize Theron’s Meredith Vickers is a “suit” for a certain Weyland-Yutani. Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender may or may not be an early model of Ash’s android and may or may not be trustworthy. And Noomi Rapace’s archaeologist heroine, Elizabeth Shaw – a spiritual cousin to “Rippers” – is one half of a conflicted couple of Logan Marshall-Green’s Holloway: “One comes from a position of faith, and the other is pure scientist,” details Scott. Both are going to have a lot to swallow.

When asked about the recently released production stills showing the humanoid head in the Ampule Chamber, Ridley says there’s ‘more to it’ and goes on to say ‘I’ve locked up all the sweet stuff…” Including something familiar, perhaps?’. You can read the full interview in the forum. Thanks to Gazz for transcribing the interview.



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Comments: 37
  1. SpreadEagleBeagle
    I know, I know...

    What I really don't like is the "epic" part. Epic doesn't fit Alien, at least not in the universe settled in the movies.

    And btw. the more I look at that humongous white dude's face the more it bothers me...
  2. zuzuki
    Quote from: Gash on Dec 17, 2011, 05:42:20 PM
    Quote from: SpreadEagleBeagle on Dec 17, 2011, 05:36:56 PM
    Not a big fan of the religious/epic take on the Alien universe. I like it cold, harsh, dark and sober and oh so hostile to us humans; we were never meant to leave Earth since we don't belong out there in that endless godless void. I want nihilism god damn it!

    I suspect it's using religion only as a way of referencing it's part in human history. Even confirmed atheists like me have to accept the impact of religion on the development of the world - good and bad. Elizabeth Shaw apparently sets off as a scientist/archeologist with faith but then has to re-evaluate what it all means. I'm sure there will be nastiness and nihilism aplenty.

    the whole god versus science,faith versus science is all lindelof.i liked it in lost,he defended it pretty good,but i don't want it again in this movie. probably this was his part in the writing process. take the dark themed script spaihts did based on ridleys concept,and polish it to be more friendly,more accesible to the general audience with a pleasing story. i'm not saying the movie won't be dark,or be campy,but it was probably toned down a bit
  3. Gash
    Quote from: SpreadEagleBeagle on Dec 17, 2011, 05:36:56 PM
    Not a big fan of the religious/epic take on the Alien universe. I like it cold, harsh, dark and sober and oh so hostile to us humans; we were never meant to leave Earth since we don't belong out there in that endless godless void. I want nihilism god damn it!

    I suspect it's using religion only as a way of referencing it's part in human history. Even confirmed atheists like me have to accept the impact of religion on the development of the world - good and bad. Elizabeth Shaw apparently sets off as a scientist/archeologist with faith but then has to re-evaluate what it all means. I'm sure there will be nastiness and nihilism aplenty.
  4. SpreadEagleBeagle
    Not a big fan of the religious/epic take on the Alien universe. I like it cold, harsh, dark and sober and oh so hostile to us humans; we were never meant to leave Earth since we don't belong out there in that endless godless void. I want nihilism god damn it!
  5. Ash 937
    With all of this talk about Prometheus deviating from the original Alien formula,  I can't help buy feel a little more regretful that Vincent Ward wasn't allowed to do what he wanted with his wooden planet story for Alien3.  I feel like Scott is really going to develop this universe with both religious and mythological symbolism that, while different from Ward's vision, could've served to compliment each other by expanding our scope of this universe in their own way. 

    Monks in Alien3 would served as an interesting counterpoint to Ridley's new origin-of-man story.

    I think that doing something like is only made possible by FOX because Ridley is behind it and he has a lot of push to do his own thing under the trust of the suits.  Ward, on the other hand, was essentially a non-name to them and therefore was both restricted and fired for deviating from the formula too much.

    Just a thought.
  6. ryanjayhawk
    Quote from: Xenomorphine on Dec 17, 2011, 02:29:33 AM
    Quote from: ryanjayhawk on Dec 16, 2011, 08:45:57 PM
    I should have clarified the egg was not from the trailer... it was from one of the production stills they released that was enhanced for clarity.

    I know what you're referring to and there's still nothing 'that's-definitely-an-egg' about it. A lot of people also claim they're just as sure it's a dead Space Jockey head, too. Others think it's an unconscious astronaut.

    Besides which, it wouldn't make sense for a single, solitary Alien egg to be randomly situated in a room full of metal urns.

    Personally, I think we should wait and see.

    If you are talking about the thing they are shining their light on then no thats not the picture I saw... I'm with you on that, I have no idea what that is... it does seem to round to be the head...
  7. Xenomorphine
    Quote from: ryanjayhawk on Dec 16, 2011, 08:45:57 PM
    I should have clarified the egg was not from the trailer... it was from one of the production stills they released that was enhanced for clarity.

    I know what you're referring to and there's still nothing 'that's-definitely-an-egg' about it. A lot of people also claim they're just as sure it's a dead Space Jockey head, too. Others think it's an unconscious astronaut.

    Besides which, it wouldn't make sense for a single, solitary Alien egg to be randomly situated in a room full of metal urns.

    Personally, I think we should wait and see.
  8. T Dog
    By the way who wrote the article. Was it the author of Alien Vault, Ian Nathan by chance?
    If so, that guy is definitely in the know of things to expect in Prometheus, so he would have a greater license to accurately fill in the gaps in the article.
  9. ChrisPachi
    There is a fair bit of stuff in the article that is not Ridley's actual words, mostly insinuation by the article's author. Scott doesn't say much of anything in here that we haven't heard before, however...

    QuoteHe talked about bioengineering and biological warfare as potential themes. Has he been able to satisfy his curiosity in that respect? "Definitely."

    That's good. Thanks for the transcription Gazz!

    -Chris
  10. Xenomorphine
    Quote from: Gazz on Dec 16, 2011, 12:50:10 PM
    "A crew of scientists embark on a journey somebody else is paying for,"

    'Jurassic Park' in spaaaaaaaaace!

    QuoteBoth are going to have a lot to swallow.

    Oh, Ridley, you card...

    Quote from: ryanjayhawk on Dec 16, 2011, 05:05:18 PM
    Egg which is extremely similar to the egg from Alien even down to the opening at the top

    According to some interpretations. Not one I'd agree with. The only thing anyone can definitely agree upon is that it's 'something'.
  11. ryanjayhawk
    Quote from: Engineer1 on Dec 16, 2011, 02:38:02 PM
    You tought that he was gonna shoot all his load in a 1/2 mins trailer and spoil the movie?

    How many movie trailers in hindsight have given away pretty much the entire movie?  Further what has the leaked trailers provided us with...

    1. Ampules/Urns
    2. Giant Head
    3. Dead Body / Abandaoned Space Suit
    4. Egg which is extremely similar to the egg from Alien even down to the opening at the top
    5. What some will argue is "creature" footage
    6. Impregnated Female
    7. Green Goo presumably from Ampule/Urns

    If one through seven doesn't even count as the "sweet stuff" R. Scott was mentioning than I'm extremely excited for the movie.  I assumed he would keep the good stuff under wraps, but when that much stuff is provided in the trailer it makes you worried that to much has been given away.
  12. nendo
    Quote from: JaaayDee on Dec 16, 2011, 02:00:30 PM
    Quote from: Michael Harper on Dec 16, 2011, 01:49:18 PM
    Is that confirmation of a $100,000,000 budget?

    That isn't really much at all.  Maybe that justifies for an R rating.

    Depends on what your compairing it too. Blockbuster then it would be about right. For average films is a lot. Average action movies these days are around 40-50 million.

    Theres only realy a few that pass the £100 million mark. But you hear about them more so you would think that is the average. when its not. Its the top end
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