Ridley Scott Will Direct ‘Alien’ Prequel, The Question Is Why

Posted by Rob Hunter (rob@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 31, 2009

Ridley Scott Goes Back to Sci-Fi

It’s been rumored for a little while, but now it’s official… Ridley Scott is attached to direct a prequel to his classic franchise-starter, Alien. Am I the only one who doesn’t see the upside here?

Per Variety, the prequel will be written by Jon Spaihts who got the gig after wowing Scott and his Scott Free production company with a stellar pitch. Spaihts has four other screenplays in various stages of development including two for Keanu Reeves. None of them have have gone into production yet, so it’s impossible to gauge his storytelling talent at this point.

So what is there to be excited about here exactly? I understand the Alien sequels have run out of steam, and I’m glad 20th Century Fox hasn’t decided to do an Alien remake… but where’s the appeal of a prequel? By definition it will take place before Sigourney Weaver and the rest of the Nostromo’s crew unwittingly brought interstellar crabs on-board. Since the crew (and mankind) had no previous knowledge of the aliens we can presume that either the two species had never before crossed paths, or if they did there were no human survivors from the encounter. So doesn’t that mean the prequel would either not feature humans (unlikely) or feature humans that all end up dead (boring)?

I’m curious why Scott would sign on, and while it may be due mostly to Spaihts’ pitch I wonder if maybe his desire for a box office hit isn’t the bigger influence. His last real financial success was 2001’s Hannibal which grossed twice it’s budget (American Gangster and Black Hawk Down both grossed over $100 million but they also cost about that much to produce) and he may be craving a more predictable blockbuster.

Is Scott in the director’s chair enough to interest you in an Alien prequel?

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Scoots

This movie could be about the space jockey that they find in the first film. That would be sweet.

AngryBroomstick

I'm dead against it!!! NO MORE REMAKES, REBOOTS, PREQUELS OR SEQUELS, please Hollywood. Come up with something original!!!!!!!

JDV

The cynicism in this article is glaringly obvious. Come on, when's the last time Scott has made a stinker? Well, Hannibal wasn't great but still creepy fun.

RobHunter

'A Good Year' in 2006.

But I'm not cynical about him making a good movie, I'd just prefer he explore a story with possibility. Again, I haven't seen the pitch for the prequel but I don't like either of the options I listed above. If it's something new and fresh then I'll stand corrected, but until then...

Lisa

I actually agree with the tone of this piece. I have really mixed feelings about this. On one hand, Ridley Scott is a singularly great filmmaker and Alien is a masterpiece of fear, immersion and suspense. There's just not another film before or since that has come anywhere near it in terms of the stellar writing and masterful direction. I'm likewise leery of most of today's screenwriters (with a handful of exceptions like Wm. Monaghan), most of whom are better at schmoozing than they are at crafting a meaningful film. All that said, better Ridley Scott than some videogame director crossover.

djjeffhall

Honestly, I'm with you on this Rob. I do not understand the appeal of a prequel unless it is purely for financial motives. (Ridley Scott NEEDING a blockbuster? Come on! Isn't that like saying Woody Allen NEEDS a blockbuster? It sounds absurd in my head. He is Ridley Friggin' Scott for Christ's sake.)

We all know how the story will "end." The Nostromo will pick up a long lost distress signal.

The Aliens will end up winning in this film, right? Maybe it will be a pyrrhic victory explaining why they are dormant and "hiding" in this spaceship in this planet. Okay, sounds intriguing but do I care? Not really. I'm sure there are plenty of other good storylines involving the Aliens that a good script writer can tell and Scott can direct. I'd rather hold out for that story.

solocode

I think we need to wait and hear more of the storyline pitched before we make any rash decisions.

If you will remember in the original, the "Company" sent the Nostromo the message that the Alien be brought back and that all other priorities were void and that the crw were expendable. To me this sounds as though the "Company" had previous knowledge of the Aliens.

littlemovieman

It would be very nice to see more of Megan Fox but please dont ruin a classic Megan!! PLEAASSSSEEEEEE???!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?

littlemovieman

I herd megan fox was supposed to be in it so, thats why i say that lol

darksatr

Its not strictly true that mankind had no previous knowledge of the zenomorphs. The 'Companys' weapons division directed the Nostromo to the planet so there must have been some kind of information available

Ridley Scott Will Direct ‘Alien’ Prequel, The Question Is Why

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