'Alien' prequel Update

[Illidan]

EW has confirmed that an origins story for the 1979 sci-fi classic is being actively developed. But who will direct the high-profile project? Ridley Scott planned to produce -- but not direct. Instead, he tapped first time filmmaker Carl Rinsch, best known for his futuristic TV commercials. (It's rumored Rinsch is romantically linked to Scott's daughter, Jordan; neither returned calls for comment.)

But Fox, the studio that owns the rights to the franchise, seems to have other ideas. Sources tell EW that the studio is not interested in greenlighting a prequel unless Scott himself takes the helm.

Source (http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/06/alien-remake-in.html?cnn=yes)

Riddle Scott better direct this if its ever given the green light.

[Grunthos]

I'm trying to think how you could "prequel" the original story. I guess we'd find out what happened to the elephant people.

(IMO, the first two were the only ones of high quality; 3 and 4 were bleh and hahableh)

[S Carver Orne]

In the Alien vs Predator films they alluded to the formation of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Novels in the Alien universe, as well as resource books such as the Colonial Marine Technical Manual have pretty well established a solid timeline - some with retarded notions. Like, pants on head retarded, such as Ripley's great great grandfather fighting aliens in the wild west. But with this film, all they really needed was a story to fill in [a lot] of gaps, and it can be done. Done well? Well, that might be an entirely different story altogether.

[Grunthos]

Do you recall that the original sequal was "supposed" to be (according to the fanzines of the time, like Fangoria) "Aliens on Earth?"

I still remember going to the theater to see the original.

[Ythogtha]

I just think there are some movies that do not need to be redone or that need prequels. Like John Carpenters The Thing, talks are of a remake. I think Alien is good just as it is. Hollywood has been gripped by prequel/reboot mania lately.

[Tonus]

I'm trying to think how you could "prequel" the original story. I guess we'd find out what happened to the elephant people.

(IMO, the first two were the only ones of high quality; 3 and 4 were bleh and hahableh)

Aside from one annoying plot hole, the first movie was very good. The second was, IMO, excellent. I never watched the third film in its entirety because it was just that bland. The fourth was okay as an action film, but someone forgot the "horror" part of "horror film." As well as forgetting about a plot that wouldn't make you roll your eyes.

After the second film, it became all about "what if we dropped an alien into this situation?" The idea is to stop before you act on that particular impulse...

[Ythogtha]

Yeah, Alien and Aliens were awesome, everything else was filler.

[S Carver Orne]

Aliens = Awesome. Ridiculously fucking awesome.
Alien = Very good. Ranks second in the quadrilogy.
Alien 3 = Not bad in its own way. Sure, it screws with the Alien universe and messes the continuity from the second film (Bishop, Newt and Hicks all die. Hurr durrr!)
Alien Resurrection = Give me a break. Horrible. Saw it a few times. Never watching it again. This film can eat my ass.

AvP = Groovy novelty. Yay for continuity and stuff w/ the Wayland Corp. Story is ass, though. Leave it at that,
AvP2 = Kick ass action, awesome direction. Crap story, Hollywood bastardized wish wash, if the entire production crew could get cancer of the AIDS of the leukemia of the eyes, that would be awesome.

Alien vs Predator 2 was the only good video game. Now AvP3 is coming out, and is similar to that. It's going to kick ass.

[Ythogtha]

Aliens = Awesome. Ridiculously fucking awesome.
Alien = Very good. Ranks second in the quadrilogy.
Alien 3 = Not bad in its own way. Sure, it screws with the Alien universe and messes the continuity from the second film (Bishop, Newt and Hicks all die. Hurr durrr!)
Alien Resurrection = Give me a break. Horrible. Saw it a few times. Never watching it again. This film can eat my ass.

AvP = Groovy novelty. Yay for continuity and stuff w/ the Wayland Corp. Story is ass, though. Leave it at that,
AvP2 = Kick ass action, awesome direction. Crap story, Hollywood bastardized wish wash, if the entire production crew could get cancer of the AIDS of the leukemia of the eyes, that would be awesome.

Alien vs Predator 2 was the only good video game. Now AvP3 is coming out, and is similar to that. It's going to kick ass.

I never minded Resurrection that much. I actually disliked the third one more. And I concur that both AvP’s were good action wise, but were piss pore when it came to plot. Then again, you didn’t really go see either of those two movies expecting great plots, you went to see Aliens and Predators give each other the beat down.

[Illidan]

Twentieth Century Fox is resuscitating its "Alien" franchise. The studio has hired Jon Spaihts to write a prequel that has Ridley Scott attached to return as director.

Spaihts got the job after pitching the studio and Scott Free, which will produce the film.

The film is set up to be a prequel to the groundbreaking 1979 film that Scott directed. It will precede that film, in which the crew of a commercial towing ship returning to Earth is awakened and sent to respond to a distress signal from a nearby planetoid. The crew discovers too late that the signal generated by an empty ship was meant to warn them.

The deal gives Fox another chance to keep the "Alien" franchise alive. There were three sequels to Scott's original, but it is the first time the director has set his mind on directing one.

Spaihts has become a go-to-guy for space thrillers. After Keanu Reeves became attached to his Warner Bros. sci-fi script "Shadow 19," Reeves hired Spaihts to write the space journey epic "Passengers," which is berthed at Morgan Creek. That script got Spaihts the meeting with Fox and Scott Free, and he won the job with an "Alien" reboot take that the studio and Scott loved.

Fox has separately hired him to rewrite "The Darkest Hour," which Timur Bekmambetov to produce with Tom Jacobson. Spaihts is writing "Children of Mars" for Disney and Scott Rudin, and he will follow by rewriting "St. George and the Dragon" for Sony and Red Wagon.

source (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006722.html?categoryId=13&cs=1)

[maggotface]

I just think there are some movies that do not need to be redone or that need prequels. Like John Carpenters The Thing, talks are of a remake. I think Alien is good just as it is. Hollywood has been gripped by prequel/reboot mania lately.

the thing doesnt need to be remade. it's perfect. absolutely perfect

old movies aren't like old videogames. you can still watch the movies. but chances are you threw out the system that played the old game, so a remake can let you play the game again.

[Illidan]

Alien Prequel Is Neither an Alien Movie Nor a Prequel

The upcoming Alien prequel isn't a prequel any longer, and won't even be an Alien movie, but will still be related to Alien, somehow.

First Ridley Scott was going to direct a prequel to the 1979 film Alien, called Paradise, and it had a rumored cast. Then everything we knew about the movie was a rumor, except for the fact that it was an Alien prequel directed by Scott. Now, well, we still have Scott. Twentieth Century Fox has announced that the movie, called Prometheus, will be a stand-alone film, independent from the Alien franchise, and may or may not actually feature aliens.

Scott acknowledges that the project began with Alien, but has since become an original story in a different universe. Even so, Deadline quotes the director as hinting, "The keen fan will recognize strands of Alien's DNA." According to the same source, Damon Lindelof (Lost, Star Trek), who has been working with Scott on the story, says "in a world flooded with prequels, sequels and reboots, 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." As they said we should expect an Alien prequel, they're right on target so far, but the promise of a new universe and mythology is an exciting development.

Fox announced that Prometheus is scheduled for release on March 9, 2012. Swedish actress Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the upcoming Sherlock Holmes sequel) has officially signed to star in the film, and actresses such as Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron are rumored to be in contention for another lead role. Far from not believing rumors, I won't believe anything about this one until I'm actually watching it in the theater.

Source (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.257855-Alien-Prequel-Is-Neither-an-Alien-Movie-Nor-a-Prequel)

[Grunthos]

If it has Angelina Jolie in it, it'll likely blow, but the 15-24 male demographic won't care that it does.