Prometheus (film)
Encyclopedia
Prometheus is an upcoming science fiction film
directed by Ridley Scott
and starring Noomi Rapace
, Charlize Theron
, Michael Fassbender
, Guy Pearce
, Idris Elba
and Logan Marshall-Green
. The film was originally intended as a direct prequel to the 1979 science fiction horror film Alien
. However, it was revealed that the events of the film will not precede any of the previously established characters or story lines from the Alien franchise
. Filming began in March 2011, and Prometheus is scheduled for release on June 8, 2012 through 20th Century Fox
.
. Scott sought to produce the prequel and have former commercial director
Carl Erik Rinsch to direct it, but 20th Century Fox
, which owns the Alien franchise
rights, wanted Scott to be the director. By July of 2009, Scott was attached to direct the film. Screenwriter Jon Spaihts
had pitched to Fox his approach to the prequel. The studio and Scott liked the pitch and hired Spaihts to write the screenplay. Scott anticipated setting the film 30 years prior to Alien and to produce the film in two parts and in 3D. The director said in an interview, "The film will be really tough, really nasty. It's the dark side of the moon. We are talking about gods and engineers. Engineers of space. And were the aliens designed as a form of biological warfare? Or biology that would go in and clean up a planet?" The story, which originally went through several drafts, featured a female lead character and would present a "technologically feasible" view on the early stages of "near faster-than light" travel
, as well as focus on terraforming
and Weyland Industries before its merger with the Yutani Corporation. The film would explore the nature and origin of the unknown extraterrestrial race, who only had a brief appearance in the first Alien as the derelict spaceship's pilot. Scott also announced that the original Zeta II Reticuli planetary system would have been part of the prequel story. Screenwriter Damon Lindelof
was hired to revise Spaihts's screenplay. In October of 2010, Lindelof submitted the revised screenplay to 20th Century Fox. The studio was pleased because it had contested Scott's proposed budget of $150–160 million and found Lindelof's screenplay to be more budget-conscious; Scott had initially requested a $250 million budget along with an R rating, but 20th Century Fox was reluctant to invest so much money in a film that was not PG-13.
In December 2010, in response to comments made on Twitter, Chris Petrikin a spokesman for 20th Century Fox, denied rumours that the film would be named "Paradise". In January of 2011, the film was confirmed to be titled Prometheus with a release date for 2012. Scott downplayed the film's ties to the Alien franchise. He said, "While Alien was indeed the jumping-off point for this project, out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place. The keen fan will recognize strands of Aliens DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative." However, speaking to MTV on February 12, 2011, Fassbender stated the film was still an Alien prequel, saying, "Prometheus is absolutely connected to Alien... There's a definite connecting vein." In a June 2011 interview, screenwriter Damon Lindelof claimed it will be a prequel to the Alien films but follow a different story, stating "a true prequel should essentially [precede] the events of the original film, but be about something entirely different, feature different characters, have an entirely different theme, although it takes place in that same world. That was my fundamental feeling about what this movie wanted to be". In an interview on the BBC Morning Show, Rafe Spall further confirmed that the film would indeed be a prequel to Alien, saying, "I think fans of the franchise will love it. Alien is one of the best films ever made, and it’s a real buzz to be in a space suit on an ‘Alien’ set with Ridley Scott coming and speaking to you. It’s incredible. That’s why I wanted to be an actor, to be in a space suit on an ‘Alien’ set".
by Henry South, a visual FX designer working on the Alien prequel, indicated the film had gone into production. Arthur Max
is in charge of the film's production design, heading a small Pinewood Studios
art department
whose task is to deconstruct the first Alien and reverse-design the prequels from the original art and visuals. The Alien itself will be reenvisioned as a progenitor of the received form of the Xenomorph, and Scott reported that he had planned to contact H. R. Giger
for possible artistic collaboration. At Comic Con, Damon Lindelof stated that the film is keeping as many practical effects as possible. The only mention of CGI used was for on-set pre-visualization of external space visuals.
Roger Christian
, art director on the first Alien, speculated that the film would be shot in 3-D
, which was eventually confirmed by Ridley Scott. Since 3-D films need high lighting levels on set, the hallmark atmosphere of the Alien films with darkness and shadows will be added in post-production through grading processes
, while the 3-D equipment will be based on post-Avatar technology. Filming began in March 2011. After three weeks filming at Pinewood Toronto Studios, production moved in May to Pinewood Studios
in London. The 007 Stage
was used for one of the set pieces. Filming went underway in Iceland
for a two-week shoot. Ridley Scott stated that this location will occupy the first 15 minutes of the film as a "beginning of time" sequence. It is also reported that filming will move over to Spain
in November where scenes involving a water tank and a ship will be shot. Construction is already underway in Alicante
on the water pit to recreate the ship of the protagonists in the film.
and Noomi Rapace
were reported as early contenders.
The principal cast members of Prometheus are:
for review when the film is finalized.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
directed by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
and starring Noomi Rapace
Noomi Rapace
Noomi Rapace is a Swedish actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish/Danish film adaptations of the "Millennium series": The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest...
, Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
, Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender is an Irish-German actor. He is best known for playing Lt. Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and Magneto in the superhero blockbuster X-Men: First Class...
, Guy Pearce
Guy Pearce
Guy Edward Pearce is an English-born Australian actor and musician, known for his roles as Leonard Shelby in Christopher Nolan's Memento, Lieutenant Ed Exley in L.A...
, Idris Elba
Idris Elba
Idrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
and Logan Marshall-Green
Logan Marshall-Green
Logan Marshall-Green is an American actor best known for his roles in Dark Blue, The O.C., 24, and Traveler.-Early life:...
. The film was originally intended as a direct prequel to the 1979 science fiction horror film Alien
Alien (film)
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a highly aggressive extraterrestrial creature which...
. However, it was revealed that the events of the film will not precede any of the previously established characters or story lines from the Alien franchise
Alien (franchise)
The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien"...
. Filming began in March 2011, and Prometheus is scheduled for release on June 8, 2012 through 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
.
Development
The film was first reported in mid-2009 as an untitled prequel to Scott's 1979 science fiction horror film AlienAlien (film)
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a highly aggressive extraterrestrial creature which...
. Scott sought to produce the prequel and have former commercial director
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
Carl Erik Rinsch to direct it, but 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, which owns the Alien franchise
Alien (franchise)
The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien"...
rights, wanted Scott to be the director. By July of 2009, Scott was attached to direct the film. Screenwriter Jon Spaihts
Jon Spaihts
-Career:As a screenwriter Jon Spaihts became known in the film industry as a "go-to-guy for space thrillers" when his science fiction romance Passengers was included on the 2007 Black List of unproduced high-value screenplays. Keanu Reeves had hired Spaihts to write the film after originally...
had pitched to Fox his approach to the prequel. The studio and Scott liked the pitch and hired Spaihts to write the screenplay. Scott anticipated setting the film 30 years prior to Alien and to produce the film in two parts and in 3D. The director said in an interview, "The film will be really tough, really nasty. It's the dark side of the moon. We are talking about gods and engineers. Engineers of space. And were the aliens designed as a form of biological warfare? Or biology that would go in and clean up a planet?" The story, which originally went through several drafts, featured a female lead character and would present a "technologically feasible" view on the early stages of "near faster-than light" travel
Faster-than-light
Faster-than-light communications and travel refer to the propagation of information or matter faster than the speed of light....
, as well as focus on terraforming
Terraforming
Terraforming of a planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology to be similar to those of Earth, in order to make it habitable by terrestrial organisms.The term is sometimes used more generally as a...
and Weyland Industries before its merger with the Yutani Corporation. The film would explore the nature and origin of the unknown extraterrestrial race, who only had a brief appearance in the first Alien as the derelict spaceship's pilot. Scott also announced that the original Zeta II Reticuli planetary system would have been part of the prequel story. Screenwriter Damon Lindelof
Damon Lindelof
Damon Laurence Lindelof is an American television writer and executive, most recently noted as the co-creator and executive producer for the television series Lost. He has written for and produced Crossing Jordan, and wrote for Nash Bridges, Wasteland, and the MTV anthology series Undressed...
was hired to revise Spaihts's screenplay. In October of 2010, Lindelof submitted the revised screenplay to 20th Century Fox. The studio was pleased because it had contested Scott's proposed budget of $150–160 million and found Lindelof's screenplay to be more budget-conscious; Scott had initially requested a $250 million budget along with an R rating, but 20th Century Fox was reluctant to invest so much money in a film that was not PG-13.
In December 2010, in response to comments made on Twitter, Chris Petrikin a spokesman for 20th Century Fox, denied rumours that the film would be named "Paradise". In January of 2011, the film was confirmed to be titled Prometheus with a release date for 2012. Scott downplayed the film's ties to the Alien franchise. He said, "While Alien was indeed the jumping-off point for this project, out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place. The keen fan will recognize strands of Aliens DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative." However, speaking to MTV on February 12, 2011, Fassbender stated the film was still an Alien prequel, saying, "Prometheus is absolutely connected to Alien... There's a definite connecting vein." In a June 2011 interview, screenwriter Damon Lindelof claimed it will be a prequel to the Alien films but follow a different story, stating "a true prequel should essentially [precede] the events of the original film, but be about something entirely different, feature different characters, have an entirely different theme, although it takes place in that same world. That was my fundamental feeling about what this movie wanted to be". In an interview on the BBC Morning Show, Rafe Spall further confirmed that the film would indeed be a prequel to Alien, saying, "I think fans of the franchise will love it. Alien is one of the best films ever made, and it’s a real buzz to be in a space suit on an ‘Alien’ set with Ridley Scott coming and speaking to you. It’s incredible. That’s why I wanted to be an actor, to be in a space suit on an ‘Alien’ set".
Pre-production and filming
On November 10, 2010, a tweetTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
by Henry South, a visual FX designer working on the Alien prequel, indicated the film had gone into production. Arthur Max
Arthur Max
Arthur Max is an American movie art director and Production Designer. He has been nominated for Academy Awards twice: once for his work on Gladiator and another for his Production Design on American Gangster...
is in charge of the film's production design, heading a small Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
art department
Art department
Art department in movie terms means the section of a production's crew concerned with visual artistry. Working under the supervision of the production designer and/or art director, the art department is responsible for arranging the overall look of the film as desired by the film director...
whose task is to deconstruct the first Alien and reverse-design the prequels from the original art and visuals. The Alien itself will be reenvisioned as a progenitor of the received form of the Xenomorph, and Scott reported that he had planned to contact H. R. Giger
H. R. Giger
Hans Rudolf "Ruedi" Giger is a Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and set designer. He won an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects for his design work on the film Alien.-Early life:...
for possible artistic collaboration. At Comic Con, Damon Lindelof stated that the film is keeping as many practical effects as possible. The only mention of CGI used was for on-set pre-visualization of external space visuals.
Roger Christian
Roger Christian (filmmaker)
-External links:*...
, art director on the first Alien, speculated that the film would be shot in 3-D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
, which was eventually confirmed by Ridley Scott. Since 3-D films need high lighting levels on set, the hallmark atmosphere of the Alien films with darkness and shadows will be added in post-production through grading processes
Color grading
Color grading or colour painting, is the process of altering and enhancing the color of a motion picture, video image, or still image either electronically, photo-chemically or digitally. The photo-chemical process is also referred to as color timing and is typically performed at a photographic...
, while the 3-D equipment will be based on post-Avatar technology. Filming began in March 2011. After three weeks filming at Pinewood Toronto Studios, production moved in May to Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a major British film studio situated in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, approximately west of central London. The studios have played host to many productions over the years from huge blockbuster films to television shows to commercials to pop promos.The purchase of Shepperton...
in London. The 007 Stage
007 Stage
The Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage is one of the largest silent stages in the world. It is located at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, and named after the famous James Bond film producer Albert R...
was used for one of the set pieces. Filming went underway in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
for a two-week shoot. Ridley Scott stated that this location will occupy the first 15 minutes of the film as a "beginning of time" sequence. It is also reported that filming will move over to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in November where scenes involving a water tank and a ship will be shot. Construction is already underway in Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
on the water pit to recreate the ship of the protagonists in the film.
Casting
In October 2010, several actresses met with Scott for a role in the film, and Natalie PortmanNatalie Portman
Natalie Hershlag , better known by her stage name Natalie Portman, is an actress with dual American and Israeli citizenship. Her first role was as an orphan taken in by a hitman in the 1994 French action film Léon, but major success came when she was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel...
and Noomi Rapace
Noomi Rapace
Noomi Rapace is a Swedish actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish/Danish film adaptations of the "Millennium series": The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest...
were reported as early contenders.
The principal cast members of Prometheus are:
- Noomi RapaceNoomi RapaceNoomi Rapace is a Swedish actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish/Danish film adaptations of the "Millennium series": The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest...
as Elizabeth Shaw. Rapace met with Scott in August 2010 for the film's lead role. Other actresses in talks for the role included Gemma ArtertonGemma ArtertonGemma Arterton is an English actress. She played the eponymous protagonist in the BBC adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and starred in the feature films St Trinian's, the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Tamara...
, Carey MulliganCarey MulliganCarey Hannah Mulligan is an English actress. She made her film debut as Kitty Bennet in Pride & Prejudice . She had roles in numerous British programmes and, in 2007, made her Broadway debut in The Seagull to critical acclaim....
, and Abbie CornishAbbie CornishAbbie Cornish is an Australian actress. She is well known in Australia for a number of film and television roles, particularly her award-winning lead performance in 2004's Somersault, and internationally for her role as Fanny Brawne in Bright Star and her appearance as Sweet Pea in Sucker Punch.-...
. In January 2011 Rapace was confirmed for her role as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, a character she has likened to the Alien franchiseAlien (franchise)The Alien film series is a science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battle with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien"...
's Ellen RipleyEllen RipleyEllen Ripley is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Alien film series played by American actress Sigourney Weaver. The character was heralded as a seminal role for challenging gender roles, particularly in the science fiction genre, and remains Weaver's most famous role to...
. - Charlize TheronCharlize TheronCharlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
as Meredith Vickers. Theron described the character as "a suit who slowly sheds that skin through the film". Michelle YeohMichelle YeohMichelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian Chinese actress, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s....
was previously rumored to play the character, described as "a fortysomething, tough-but-sexy woman". - Michael FassbenderMichael FassbenderMichael Fassbender is an Irish-German actor. He is best known for playing Lt. Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and Magneto in the superhero blockbuster X-Men: First Class...
as David, an android. Lindelof described his character as an inspiration from Blade Runner, emphasizing on the relationships between androids and human beings: "What does the movie look like from the robot's point of view? If you were to ask him, 'What do you think about all of this? What's going on? What do you think about these humans who are around you?.' Wouldn't it be cool if we found a way for that robot to answer those questions?" - Darwin Shaw as an Engineer.
- Matthew Rook as an Elder Engineer.
- Idris ElbaIdris ElbaIdrissa Akuna "Idris" Elba is a British television, theatre, and film actor. He has starred in both British and American productions. Elba grew up in Canning Town, East London. One of his first acting roles was in the soap opera Family Affairs. He has worked in a variety of TV roles including ...
as Captain Janek - Logan Marshall-GreenLogan Marshall-GreenLogan Marshall-Green is an American actor best known for his roles in Dark Blue, The O.C., 24, and Traveler.-Early life:...
as Holloway, Elizabeth's love interest. - Kate DickieKate DickieKate Dickie is a Scottish actress who has appeared in television series, stage plays and films. She is best-known for her portrayal as the security camera operative Jackie in her starring debut Red Road, directed by Andrea Arnold, and for which she was given several awards as best actress, among...
- Guy PearceGuy PearceGuy Edward Pearce is an English-born Australian actor and musician, known for his roles as Leonard Shelby in Christopher Nolan's Memento, Lieutenant Ed Exley in L.A...
- Benedict WongBenedict WongBenedict Wong is an English actor and comedian.Wong was born in Manchester and attended school in Salford. His first role was in a 1993 BBC Radio play called Kai Mei Sauce, written by Kevin Wong. He appeared alongside Sean Lock in the situation comedy 15 Storeys High, and as Dr. Franklin Fu in the...
as Ravel - Emun Elliot as Chance
- Rafe SpallRafe SpallRafe Joseph Spall is an English actor. He is best known for his roles in the Edgar Wright films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz , alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. He had previously appeared alongside Pegg and Frost in a 2001 episode of Spaced...
as Millburn - Sean HarrisSean HarrisSean Harris is a British actor, who is best known for his performance as Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in the film 24 Hour Party People. He grew up in Norwich, Norfolk, where he lived until he was 23....
as Fifield - James Payton
- Patrick WilsonPatrick Wilson (actor)Patrick Joseph Wilson is an American actor and singer. Wilson has spent years singing lead roles in major Broadway musicals, beginning in 1996. In 2003, he appeared in the HBO mini-series Angels in America...
Release
Prometheus is scheduled to be released on , 2012. It was originally scheduled to be released on , 2012, but the date was pushed back for "a high-profile summer release". Ridley Scott reported that he is shooting both PG-13 and R-rated cuts of the film to be submitted to Fox20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
for review when the film is finalized.