QuoteENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So how did you arrive at wanting to do this Alien movie? And did it have anything to do with having Sigourney Weaver play a supporting part in Chappie?
NEILL BLOMKAMP: It did have to do with having Sigourney on Chappie. It's just something that I've always wanted to one day be a part of. Those first two [Alien] films are probably my favorite films ever made. I didn't know if it would ever happen. I just always wanted to participate in it if I was able to.
Over the years, I came up with a story for a film in that universe that I wanted to make. And then when I talked to her about her experience making those films and what she thought about Ripley and everything else, it informed and changed the film I wanted to make into something different.
It just sort of stuck with me. A year later, when post-production was winding down on Chappie, I started fleshing out the idea for a film that would contain Sigourney. Fox never knew. I just worked on it when I could. Before I knew it, I had this really awesome film with a lot of artwork and a lot of backstory. And then I didn't know whether I was going to make it or not. So I just kind of sat on it for a while.
You mean, you showed your treatment to Fox and they sat on it?
No, Fox was keen from the moment I showed it to them. They didn't even know I was working on it. I just wanted to make sure that—any big studio film, I want to know that it's the right choice for me. So I just kind of sat on it for a while.
I would imagine after the Halo experience, you'd be wary of joining a big franchise like that. Plus, it seems like you personally get frustrated with the whole Hollywood studio system. So something like this could have the potential to really aggravate you.
Yeah, but it feels cool now. So far, Fox seems really, really cool. So I'm really excited. The movie itself is so wicked.
So do you have script? A treatment? How far along is it?
Mmm, I can't say! I can't get into it too much.
In terms of the writing, was that concurrent to shooting Chappie in 2013?
No, that was way later. It was in post-production on Chappie, the second half of 2014.
Anything else we can say about this? Presumably, it takes place after the events in Prometheus.
No, no. I want to keep it on hyper-lockdown. It's early yet. It's Chappie time.
http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/24/neill-blomkamp-alien-chappie-qa (http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/24/neill-blomkamp-alien-chappie-qa)
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Feb 25, 2015, 03:32:48 AM
I started fleshing out the idea for a film that would contain Sigourney.
Its confirmed ripely will be in it now, although it was pretty much a guarantee from the start. I wish he would lets some plot points drop. Those concept art images might be from his original idea of the film before he rewrote it after talking to Weaver. If that's the case then we really have no clue what the film will contain.
I wouldn't expect any big plot points to drop anytime soon. Even if he could let something slip with Fox's approval, his mind seems to be totally on Chappie right now which is perfectly understandable.
Quote from: marrerom on Feb 25, 2015, 03:50:39 AM
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Feb 25, 2015, 03:32:48 AM
I started fleshing out the idea for a film that would contain Sigourney.
Its confirmed ripely will be in it now, although it was pretty much a guarantee from the start. I wish he would lets some plot points drop. Those concept art images might be from his original idea of the film before he rewrote it after talking to Weaver. If that's the case then we really have no clue what the film will contain.
Yeah he said he changed some stuff after talking to her. But he keeps saying how he loved the first two. So I'm thinking he just changed his mind about the bio/exo suit thing but not the possible Hicks comeback.
I'm still not buying a ticket to see chappie.
So, it seems that Ripley will definitely end up in the movie.
Quote from: marrerom on Feb 25, 2015, 03:50:39 AM
Its confirmed ripely will be in it now, although it was pretty much a guarantee from the start.
Kind of jumping the gun a little bit don't you think? I mean I'm sure he had written it in mind with her to be in it but so far nothing is concrete. Kind of like how Rodriguez wrote PREDATORS in mind for Arnold but nothing came of it. I think it would be a good idea to wait until casting has been announced. But it's not unreasonable to assume she'll be in it.
Quote from: xeno-kaname on Feb 25, 2015, 04:12:50 AM
Yeah he said he changed some stuff after talking to her. But he keeps saying how he loved the first two. So I'm thinking he just changed his mind about the bio/exo suit thing but not the possible Hicks comeback.
Whatever was changed, we don't know but I will say this.. If the Hick comeback is something confirmed later on, well... I wouldn't know what to say to that. I really don't know.
I wonder if elements of the comics will be brought in. I mean, I do not want to see an adaptation of Earth War but some things might be cool like Newt's dreams.
I assume Sigourney would have talked about giving proper closure for Ripley, like she's mentioned in recent interviews. If that's the case, then the movie would have to lead off from Resurrection, wouldn't it?
Quote from: PsyKore on Feb 25, 2015, 06:01:22 AM
I assume Sigourney would have talked about giving proper closure for Ripley, like she's mentioned in recent interviews. If that's the case, then the movie would have to lead off from Resurrection, wouldn't it?
That's what I am hoping for!!
neil seems like a great guy.
what is the consensus regarding him ?? is he a good director ??
heart seems in the right place.
Quote from: PsyKore on Feb 25, 2015, 06:01:22 AM
I assume Sigourney would have talked about giving proper closure for Ripley, like she's mentioned in recent interviews. If that's the case, then the movie would have to lead off from Resurrection, wouldn't it?
That's what I'm hoping for. Weaver has spoke about giving Ripley proper closure for sometime now and to be perfectly honest, that's what I feel the franchise needs to most. Then it can move on to something new without having to retcon everything.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 25, 2015, 08:24:37 AM
Quote from: PsyKore on Feb 25, 2015, 06:01:22 AM
I assume Sigourney would have talked about giving proper closure for Ripley, like she's mentioned in recent interviews. If that's the case, then the movie would have to lead off from Resurrection, wouldn't it?
That's what I'm hoping for. Weaver has spoke about giving Ripley proper closure for sometime now and to be perfectly honest, that's what I feel the franchise needs to most. Then it can move on to something new without having to retcon everything.
Yes, this is exactly what is needed. Wrap it in a neat little bow. Still I wonder, what would they... I mean she'd probably have to go looking for some aliens, right?
Quote from: GQSioux on Feb 25, 2015, 06:22:37 AMThat's what I am hoping for!!
+1
Quote from: oduodu on Feb 25, 2015, 08:23:08 AMneil seems like a great guy.
what is the consensus regarding him ?? is he a good director ??
heart seems in the right place.
I like him. I've said several times over the last few days how
District 9 is my favourite movie from the last decade. Absolutely brilliant film. I also really liked
Elysium, although visuals aside it was a much more of a generic action film without the extra special something that took
District 9 above and beyond. I haven't honestly looked into
Chappie much, but I'm planning on seeing it and I saw a trailer last night that piqued my interest.
As for him personally, he does come across as a really decent bloke.
Quote from: oduodu on Feb 25, 2015, 08:23:08 AM
what is the consensus regarding him ?? is he a good director ??
His first feature got 4 Oscar noms.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Feb 25, 2015, 10:52:57 AM
I haven't honestly looked into Chappie much, but I'm planning on seeing it and I saw a trailer last night that piqued my interest.
Your one-stop Chappie shop: http://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=47528.0 (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=47528.0)
ok
i am sold on the man.
hope we don t get another alien 3 - david fincher scenario !!
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Feb 25, 2015, 11:43:55 AMYour one-stop Chappie shop: http://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=47528.0 (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=47528.0)
Thanks, but I'm actually happy to go in blind. I prefer to do that with movies I'm genuinely curious about.
I'll hit up the thread afterwards though!
Quote from: PsyKore on Feb 25, 2015, 06:01:22 AM
I assume Sigourney would have talked about giving proper closure for Ripley, like she's mentioned in recent interviews. If that's the case, then the movie would have to lead off from Resurrection, wouldn't it?
For me, giving Ripley
proper closure would be by retconning Alien 3 and Resurrection. I have less than zero interest in the whole Ripley 8 fiasco...
Quote from: Rankles75 on Feb 25, 2015, 12:59:37 PM
Quote from: PsyKore on Feb 25, 2015, 06:01:22 AM
I assume Sigourney would have talked about giving proper closure for Ripley, like she's mentioned in recent interviews. If that's the case, then the movie would have to lead off from Resurrection, wouldn't it?
For me, giving Ripley proper closure would be by retconning Alien 3 and Resurrection. I have less than zero interest in the whole Ripley 8 fiasco...
They already gave Ripley proper closure in Alien 3. Then the suits and Weaver both agreed to bring her back so they could make money. They made their own mess. I hope Blomkamp's movie cleans it up by looking forward and not rewriting past mistakes. I hope he takes the mistakes and twists them into something creatively positive.
Yes! I'm glad Blomkamp stuck to his word on having Sigourney back in the film. It's just a shame that the studio waited 17 years after the 4th Alien film to finaly make a treatment with Ripley in it. I hope they really start pushing into production for the movie. I don't want to wait another 3 or 4 years to see it.
If I had to guess, I'd put money on 2018. It only took two years after Elysium for Chappie to release, but Chappie is a much smaller movie and was more heavily in pre-production during Elysium's post than this seems to be.
Whatever release plan Fox has for Prometheus 2 is bound to factor in to this as well.
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Feb 25, 2015, 06:37:26 PM
If I had to guess, I'd put money on 2018. It only took two years after Elysium for Chappie to release, but Chappie is a much smaller movie and was more heavily in pre-production during Elysium's post than this seems to be.
Whatever release plan Fox has for Prometheus 2 is bound to factor in to this as well.
The good news here though is that a lot of the hard work has already been done!
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Feb 25, 2015, 06:37:26 PM
If I had to guess, I'd put money on 2018. It only took two years after Elysium for Chappie to release, but Chappie is a much smaller movie and was more heavily in pre-production during Elysium's post than this seems to be.
Whatever release plan Fox has for Prometheus 2 is bound to factor in to this as well.
Lets only hope so. I hope they release Prometheus 2 and Alien 5 within a year or two of each other. I don't know though. I think the film might come out in late 2017. That would be cool.
Please don't continue from Resurrection. That movie sucked and is NOT where the story should continue from. And Ripley 8 was a TERRIBLE character. I say retcon A3 and A:R, but that's just me.
Quote from: Adam802 on Feb 25, 2015, 07:50:32 PM
Please don't continue from Resurrection. That movie sucked and is NOT where the story should continue from. And Ripley 8 was a TERRIBLE character. I say retcon A3 and A:R, but that's just me.
You might have just gotten your wish. :-\
I always knew Blomkamp was a hack - a very talanted hack when it comes to designs and Hollywood narratives, but a hack nonetheless. This retcon/reboot thing confirms it.
Trying to eradicate the saving grace of the Alien(s) movies (talking about A3) just to pave the way for uninspiring ALIENS clones is downright sad and disheartening. Movie industry is so lazy and cheap these days. Fortunately for them, ALIENS fans don't care as long as they get their dose of pulse rifles, cannon fodder aliens, mech warriors, colonial marines and of course Hix & N00t!
I'm happy for you guys! Me? Well, this will be the first Alien movie I'm not even remotely interested in watching. Even the AVP movies had me slightly curious. This one? Meh... Reboots/retcons are like a wet blanket.
When is PROMETHEUS 2 supposed to come out btw?
At this point, I'd rather have f**king time travel than flat out IGNORING Alien 3 and Resurrection. At least it would mean Alien 3 still happened. It's the lesser of the two evils.
I couldn't be happier about this news.
Signed,
David Fincher
Quote from: SpreadEagleBeagle on Feb 25, 2015, 08:47:14 PM
I always knew Blomkamp was a hack - a very talanted hack when it comes to designs and Hollywood narratives, but a hack nonetheless. This retcon/reboot thing confirms it.
Trying to eradicate the saving grace of the Alien(s) movies (talking about A3) just to pave the way for uninspiring ALIENS clones is downright sad and disheartening. Movie industry is so lazy and cheap these days. Fortunately for them, ALIENS fans don't care as long as they get their dose of pulse rifles, cannon fodder aliens, mech warriors, colonial marines and of course Hix & N00t!
I'm happy for you guys! Me? Well, this will be the first Alien movie I'm not even remotely interested in watching. Even the AVP movies had me slightly curious. This one? Meh... Reboots/retcons are like a wet blanket.
When is PROMETHEUS 2 supposed to come out btw?
Well let me ask you this:
If ALIENS never got a sequel, and Alien 3 was just finally being made today in 2015, would you have wanted it to go in the direction it did(killing off Hicks, Newt, Bishop, prison planet, etc), or go in a different direction?
Quote from: SpreadEagleBeagle on Feb 25, 2015, 08:47:14 PM
I always knew Blomkamp was a hack - a very talanted hack when it comes to designs and Hollywood narratives, but a hack nonetheless. This retcon/reboot thing confirms it.
Trying to eradicate the saving grace of the Alien(s) movies (talking about A3) just to pave the way for uninspiring ALIENS clones is downright sad and disheartening. Movie industry is so lazy and cheap these days. Fortunately for them, ALIENS fans don't care as long as they get their dose of pulse rifles, cannon fodder aliens, mech warriors, colonial marines and of course Hix & N00t!
I'm happy for you guys! Me? Well, this will be the first Alien movie I'm not even remotely interested in watching. Even the AVP movies had me slightly curious. This one? Meh... Reboots/retcons are like a wet blanket.
When is PROMETHEUS 2 supposed to come out btw?
You say this as if you know any details of the plot. Even if Hicks and Newt come back, the direction the story takes could still be pretty removed from what Aliens was, even if it is in the same "vein" as that movie.
Fact is we don't kniw the plot. If it's an Aliens rehash then yes maybe you won't have interest. But it could still be something else as well.
I'd understand more if the retcon turns you off but right now it just sounds like you've made up your mind about how the movie will turn out and have lost interest without any info on the actual story.
I think the burn out of the franchises and fandom just fizzled even further. You know I've supported the franchises for twenty one years. Twenty one long years. Stuck it through all of the movies-- Predator and Alien combined, AVPs accounted for as well.
Look, I've got nothing bad to say about the movie which was just announced. I liked Blomkamp's District 9 but that's the only movie of his which I had happened to watch. I've heard mixed things about Elysium, some of it good and some of it bad. I'm neutral since I never saw Elysium.
But I agree with SpreadEagleBeagle.. This comes off as nothing more than pandering to fans who have never gotten over that Hicks and Newt were killed off in Alien 3. Seems as if the twenty three years of complaints finally paid off and the current brass at Fox listened. Twenty three years too late. And Alien 3, for all of the undeserved hate it gets, is an unrecognized and unrealized masterpiece which was only hampered by Fox's decisions as a studio-- and now said diamond in the rough is essentially kicked to the curb. Whatever enthusiasm I had for this movie... is lowered.
Will I see it? I don't know.. But I don't think I have anything negative or positive to say. So before anyone jumps on my ass and says I'm shit-canning this movie, I'm not. All I'm saying is, I'm displeased with the decision to retcon or possibly just ignore Alien 3.
For me and my personal canon... Alien 3 is the true sequel to Aliens. All I have to say.
Quote from: Adam802 on Feb 25, 2015, 08:53:02 PM
Quote from: SpreadEagleBeagle on Feb 25, 2015, 08:47:14 PM
I always knew Blomkamp was a hack - a very talanted hack when it comes to designs and Hollywood narratives, but a hack nonetheless. This retcon/reboot thing confirms it.
Trying to eradicate the saving grace of the Alien(s) movies (talking about A3) just to pave the way for uninspiring ALIENS clones is downright sad and disheartening. Movie industry is so lazy and cheap these days. Fortunately for them, ALIENS fans don't care as long as they get their dose of pulse rifles, cannon fodder aliens, mech warriors, colonial marines and of course Hix & N00t!
I'm happy for you guys! Me? Well, this will be the first Alien movie I'm not even remotely interested in watching. Even the AVP movies had me slightly curious. This one? Meh... Reboots/retcons are like a wet blanket.
When is PROMETHEUS 2 supposed to come out btw?
Well let me ask you this:
If ALIENS never got a sequel, and Alien 3 was just finally being made today in 2015, would you have wanted it to go in the direction it did(killing off Hicks, Newt, Bishop, prison planet, etc), or go in a different direction?
Keep it as it is.
A3 is why I'm still bothering with this franchise. ALIEN is a classic, it's a masterpiece on its own with or without the franchise. A3 is the sober reality check of the franchise, making ALIENS tolerable as it is a good segue to the final chapter and perfect "ending" that is A3.
Quote from: RakaiThwei on Feb 25, 2015, 08:56:50 PM
But I agree with SpreadEagleBeagle.. This comes off as nothing more than pandering to fans who have never gotten over that Hicks and Newt were killed off in Alien 3. Seems as if the twenty three years of complaints finally paid off and the current brass at Fox listened. Twenty three years too late.
I keep hearing that this is "pandering to the fans." I simply don't believe that. He isn't pandering. It's just his own personal opinion that the movie's should've gone forward im a different way. It's not about what the fans want really. I think he just found a story he really would like to tell with these characters.
I mean seriously how can it be pandering to the fans after
20 YEARS. Sadly, I'm sure a lot of fans from back then have passed away. Never to see this unexpected turn. Obviously the movies create new fans over the years, young and old, but still it has been 20 years. Those new fans are very likely not as vocal as 20 years prior.
So no I don't think it's pandering. More like revisiting a past idea because the franchise fell short in its later entries.
So f***ing happy if we truly are getting the sequel Aliens deserves. A3 fans will still have their film and will refuse to acknowledge the existence of this film (the way the rest of us have with theirs), and they're perfectly entitled to do so. A3 was a kick in the nuts for many of us who loved the first two films and the characters who survived them, and I'll be chuffed as nuts to have another film to give their stories what we would see as proper closure...
Quote from: xeno-kaname on Feb 25, 2015, 10:24:39 PM
Quote from: RakaiThwei on Feb 25, 2015, 08:56:50 PM
But I agree with SpreadEagleBeagle.. This comes off as nothing more than pandering to fans who have never gotten over that Hicks and Newt were killed off in Alien 3. Seems as if the twenty three years of complaints finally paid off and the current brass at Fox listened. Twenty three years too late.
I keep hearing that this is "pandering to the fans." I simply don't believe that. He isn't pandering. It's just his own personal opinion that the movie's should've gone forward im a different way. It's not about what the fans want really. I think he just found a story he really would like to tell with these characters.
I mean seriously how can it be pandering to the fans after 20 YEARS. Sadly, I'm sure a lot of fans from back then have passed away. Never to see this unexpected turn. Obviously the movies create new fans over the years, young and old, but still it has been 20 years. Those new fans are very likely not as vocal as 20 years prior.
So no I don't think it's pandering. More like revisiting a past idea because the franchise fell short in its later entries.
LOL!!!! "Sadly, I'm sure a lot of those fans from back then have passed away??" Really? Geez.
Aliens was one of my first theater experiences, and I just turned 36. People who I know that are diehards, who saw
Alien in theaters at a young age, are still alive and kicking in their mid-40s.
^I'm not saying it's a significant number per se. I was just using it as a reference to the age of the movie. As a thought provoker. Pretty sure it's not even near the majority just a small number. But for the sake of perspective I mentioned it.
Quote from: tmjhur on Feb 25, 2015, 06:49:50 PM
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Feb 25, 2015, 06:37:26 PM
If I had to guess, I'd put money on 2018. It only took two years after Elysium for Chappie to release, but Chappie is a much smaller movie and was more heavily in pre-production during Elysium's post than this seems to be.
Whatever release plan Fox has for Prometheus 2 is bound to factor in to this as well.
The good news here though is that a lot of the hard work has already been done!
How so? There's a story outline, but we have no clue if there's a script. There's a bit of concept art, but that's from a while ago and I'm sure he didn't have the entire film designed before ever even knowing for sure if it was going to happen.