From looking at the production still shots, I can't help but think about the sculptured Face, and the Face on Mars. I'm going to go down the rabbit hole a bit, so please bear with me.
Here is a 1958 comic from Jack Kirby about the Face on Mars. (Published years before Viking I landed on Mars, btw)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/52666560/Jack-Kirby-Face-on-Mars-1958I know many here are fans of the Alien franchise, however, I would not mind seeing an original story from the great director Sir Ridley Scott include themes from Ancient Astronaut theory.
One of the theories of the origins of mankind is that we are hybrids from the Star Gods (aka ET beings). Alien abductees claim they have been inside of what looked like an alien hospital with advanced machinery surrounding it, as well as being shown 'hybrid' babies by these entities that look half human, half reptilian. Insectoid beings like praying mantis's were also seen during these abductions. John E. Mack, Harvard Professor of Psychiatry and Pulitzer Prize Winner investigated these claims initially to debunk them, but found himself in agreement with the phenomenon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._MackHere is a documentary about John E. Mack's works on the Alien Abduction Phenomenon. Sadly he died in 2004 from a drunk driver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xTQ2-S1n-Q#wsAnother corroboration are from users who take psychedelics like 'DMT,' which is a naturally occurring substance that is secreted from your brain. Many plants and mammals have this substance in their body naturally. Users who inject it into their body, or drink 'ayahuasca,' a DMT variant tribal Amazonians use, can see visions of alien entities interacting with them, seeing alien worlds and spaceships, as well as a hospital room with what looks like advanced machinery surrounding it. Whats even more peculiar about this is that people totally unconnected to each other are having these common visions.
Here is a brief excerpt from the documentary 'The Spirit Molecule'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMbUr8yZNt0#wshttps://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&ie=UTF-8&q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.erowid.org%2Fexperiences%2F+praying+mantisAncient cave art depicts such entities, such as the cave art found in Sego Canyon Utah, Tassili National Park Algeria, and the Nazca lines in Peru.
Researchers like Graham Hancock believe that ancient shamans drew this cave art depicting the altered state of consciousness, or psychedelic state they were in through the digestion of a mixture of plants.
In this alerted state of consciousness (ACS), the user can have the ability to control their way in this 'other' realm and observe and retain what they see. Some people report seeing alien eggs like whats shown in the Alien franchise.
This artist rendering is from Slawek Wojtowicz, a frequent user of psychedelics like DMT and yage based plants therapies like 'Ayahuasca' which is prevalent with Amazonians in South America.
One of the most common themes during these trips is seeing praying mantis beings. Ancient Egyptians called them 'the diviners,' and signified as a guide to the afterlife. Its considered good luck in many cultures. Alien abduction accounts observe mantis beings as well.
Amazing Stories February 1937 Cover | District 9
What I did find interesting was that the original Alien in the first of the series had a more human quality to it, like therianthropes of ancient cultures (Half human half animal hybrid).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TherianthropeSpace Jockey origins (
http://alienexplorations.blogspot.com/2011/01/evolution-of-space-jockey-from-egyptian.html)
Egyptian Book of the Dead
What I found even more interesting was that people who ingest psychedelics like DMT see these same entities interacting with them in another realm.
Cave art depicts therianthropes quite often, from various parts of the world. (either half human half mammalian, or half insectoid, like the praying mantis)
Here is a rendering from a DMT user who observe mantis beings in the 'hyperspace' realm.
One can easily get to this 'realm' either through meditation, lucid dreaming, or by ingesting psychedelics like DMT, Ayahuasca, or LSD.
You can check out what psychonautics observe during these trips to the 'hyperspace' realm here on Erowid
http://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&ie=UTF-8&q=site%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.erowid.org%2Fexperiences%2F+praying+mantisEDIT: 1/13/12 (Going further on the use of psychedelics and its relationship to Aliens)
Going further with the AA theory, after doing more research I've realized that ancient civilizations heavily relied on psychedelics within their culture. This could explain the ancient cave art depicting non-human looking entities on ancient cave walls as shown in the OP, and not some 'alien' visitation as proposed by some within the AA community.
Mushroom Stones found in Guatemala. JSTOR link for reference.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/278737Early Christian culture heavily relied on psychedelics like Amanita Muscaria (Psilocybin variety) in order to travel to the astral, hyperspace, spiritual, hyper-dimensional reality (or are they just mere hallucinations? Personally, from the books I've read on the subject, no). As nuts as it may seem, ingesting these entheogens allows the user to meet entities that take on various forms, including therianthropes (half man, half animal), praying mantises (which look awfully similar to alien abduction scenarios), and other mythological entities. FYI, LSD is not similar in any way to Psilocybin.
John Allegro, an original Dead Sea Scroll scholar, claimed that early Christianity was heavily based on entheogens, only to be dismissed by the mainstream at large.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMZVsM5pNSE#wsDa Vinci himself was aware of entheogens and its relationship with early Christianity when he painted the Last Supper. If you look at the left most mural you will see mushrooms on it.
There is much more evidence of mushrooms being displayed prominently in early Christian art, as shown in the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU8lKlWOdxQ#wsThis theme of consiousness is similar to the movies 'The Matrix' and 'Avatar.' In Matrix, people are getting 'jacked into' the Matrix. This is represented by shoving a thick needle (electronic port of sorts) from the back of the head.
In 'Avatar,' its a Marine who lays in a zero-G cryotank who'se consciousness is transferred to the body of a Na'vi as its host. In reality, one can do this through the ingestion of entheogens like Amanita Muscaria, or Ayahuasca.
That being said, one does NOT have to ingest psychedelics to reach this realm. Through practice, one can achieve this through meditation, prayer, rythmic incantations and chants, etc. This is why so many religions practice these rituals.