Ridley Scott Looking To Resurrect Alien?
Apr 28, 2009 by Ross MillerToday comes a surprising but quite welcome piece of news: Ridley Scott is looking at going back to the Alien franchise, possibly doing some sort of prequel …
Today comes a surprising but quite welcome piece of news: Ridley Scott is looking at going back to the Alien franchise, possibly doing some sort of prequel or a reboot.
Oh, please let it be prequel, I beg of you, Mr. Scott!
Now, this wasn’t Scott himself who came out and said this, but rather Fox Co-chairman Tom Rothman during an interview at the red carpet of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I’m happy to see that this seems like a legit piece of information, even if it was announced by a surprisingly casual Rothman.
He’s what Rothman had to say:
“There’s been some talk. Ridley Scott, Ridley is right now working on Robin Hood, but I think he’s toying with the idea and that would be great for us. I mean, it’s always been a matter of, really, if you can get the originator to do it that would be the greatest thing, so I’ve got my fingers crossed, all of them.”
The interview, which was conducted by IESB, was done on video – it’s worth taking a look at as Rothman also talks about future projects including X-Men: First Class, Daredevil, Avatar and Predators (check the bottom of the post for the link).
As I hinted at above, I really, really hope that what Scott has in mind is a prequel and not a reboot. If it was a reboot, although it would be encouraging that the original director would be directing it again, it still kind of undermines what he did with the original, does it not? It would kind of feel like a “do-over,” if you will, that would essentially see him try to top the original.
A virtual impossibility, I’d imagine…
No, I sincerely hope that if he’s going to go back to it, that it’s a prequel. If it was some random director who’d never had anything to do with the franchise before who was stepping in to do a prequel, then I’d be upset. But since it’d be Scott who’d be involved, I see not only nothing wrong with a prequel, but I actually am very excited about the possibility.
Alien is one of those all-time classic movies that is as effective today as it was 30 years ago, and that’s the mark of a truly great piece of filmmaking. It has everything you could want in a movie of its type – shuddering suspense, genuinely effective horror, an iconic hero, a fantastic “bad guy,” – I really hope Scott keeps all that consistent if this prequel goes ahead.
Scott is undoubtedly one hell of a talented director; one of the best around when he’s on top form. He’s done his share of crap (Kingdom of Heaven and Hannibal, anyone?), no doubt, but so has just about every filmmaker. Besides, this was first “big” movie (no I’m not forgetting about The Duellists, so take that that as you will…) so it might bring out another A-game film from him.
At least I hope so…
I just wonder what direction Scott may go with it: Will he treat it as a sort of origin story explaining and showing just exactly how and where the aliens came about? Or will it be another simple case of humans happening across some pesky aliens and them trying to survive repeated attacks? I’d be fine either way, although an origin story would probably be the more interesting of the two.
You can check out IESB‘s full video interview with Tom Rothman by going here.
What do you think of the notion of an Alien prequel or reboot? Do you think it’s a good idea, and which direction would you like to see Ridley Scott go with it?
Source: IESB.net
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I think a prequel sounds fantastic. He can go back to where it all began; maybe with an alien scientist who creates a biological weapon that works against his enemies but with a horrible side effect…they didn’t die after killing the enemy. Just as the chaotician said in Jurassic Park, nature finds a way. It sould take place long before the ancient Egyptian pyramids.
I think they should do an Alien vs. Predator movie. There is no way they could screw that one up……oh wait……
bad idea, we dont need an origin for the aliens(xenomorph)
I could see a prequel but not sure the point of a reboot.
No, wrong Alien movie idiots! Get the director of AlienS with the “s” at the end of it, to come back to the franchise, not the first one!! Geez… Jim Cameron, please step in and slap some sense into these people…
There were rumblings a few years back of a possible James Cameron Aliens movie coming, now THAT would be something to look forward to. Yes, I would watch another Ridley Scott Alien movie since he did the first one and that was a great movie, but I’m not as excited for it as I would be for a James Cameron Aliens. So in a way this is kind of a let down without being a let down. It’s a let down in the sense that I was expecting Aliens, but got Alien instead, which isn’t too bad at least… Oh well.
i would love to see another alien film, but like i stated in my previous comment i just wouldnt want them to give an origin to the aliens
Well, I don’t know. I think one of the things that make the Aliens so fascinating is the fact that they are so mysterious. Plus, they depend on other beings to reproduce, so it only makes sense that they simply float around and spread through the galaxy from one planet to the next like a big horrible virus. I don’t really imagine some Alien home world where these aliens live in harmony with each other…
FIRST BLADE RUNNER II Then Aliens
Like,….Tears,.. in the rain
Oh man, I think I am gonna go home tonight and watch Alien!! It’s been a while. I am good with the idea of a prequel, but a reboot is totally unnecessary. I don’t understand why they just don’t do another sequel with no ties to the other 3.
All i know is that i sent a letter in to James Cameron BEGGING him to make the 4th alien movie Ripley waking up from the nightmare of alien three, instead he gave us the resurrection pile of crap.
A prequel means no Sigourney Weaver. Ripley is just as important, if not more so, to the Alien franchise than the Aliens themselves. Let’s go with a proper sequel, please.
@Josh..
You have a point, however, Sigourney Weaver is no spring chicken anymore. This may give credence to the reboot theory, as they can recast Ripley with a younger actress. Not that I can see anyone else in the role, but she’s 60 years old now. I can’t see her as the main heroine in a sequel.
all this news is great im most excited about predators though. Hopefully John McTiernan will direct this movie. he was director of predator 1.(not the crappy predator 2) If he dosent direct i hope he is involved somehow.
I agree with Ken J jim Camerons movie was far better, but i wont be disappointing if Scott directs.
This is good news. The only way I’d want another Alien film is if Ridley is involved, so if he’s on board, so am I.
My own personal theory is that Alien and Blade Runner take place in the same universe. I’d love to see something in a new Alien film that would definitively connect them, but I’m not expecting it. I guess I’d just like some sort of sign that my theory isn’t complete crap.
@Ken J
While Cameron’s Aliens is my ALL time favorite movie, don’t be dissing Scott’s Alien, dude. It’s a different movie but an awesome classic in its own right.
Vic
So aliens with the s at the end is the one where ripley battles the queen in that robot construction colored suit thing right…? Cause thats the one that was better in my opinion…
Ridley Scott’s style would be better for a prequel/origin. I think Cameron would be better for a sequel or reboot. As the comics have shown, the alien mythos span a long stretch of time. So they wouldn’t have to have Ripley in the movie except to tie it to the previous ones.
I was a huge fan of the aliens franchise and remember distinctly after the release of the re-edit of Alien when it came out that Ridley had talked about what he had in mind which was definitely a prequel but about the alien ship that the the crew found in Alien so didn’t seemed to be about the origin but basically a total alien movie, no humans. I remember thinking that was pretty wild…but that was many years ago now so who knows if its the same concept. I am 2 thumbs up about Ridley going back to tell another tale in the Alien universe.
A reboot can still take place withint established continuity right?
@ Vic, heheh, don’t worry, I’m not. I have just been hoping and praying for another Cameron Aliens movie. So my disappointment is only due to my extreme high expectations. Not that what we might get is actually bad. So I was hoping for a 10 (Cameron Aliens) and ended up with an 8 (Scott’s Alien). Still good, but I’m let down anyhow, relatively speaking…
@Jago, yes, that’s Aliens directed by James Cameron. That entire ending sequence from the Aliens in the ceiling scene all the way until the end when they are going to sleep in the pods have to be one of the most exciting stretches of action scenes I have ever seen. It goes from the final fight between the Marines and the Aliens that leaves only Cpl. Hicks, Ripley, Newt, and Bishop alive, to the Newt rescue scene, to the final Queen battle, back to back. I think the movie needs a medical warning for anyone with a heart problem to not watch the movie because it just might be too much… lol.
@ken j
I know right… but to tell you the truth… not trying to be the bad guy here… but i was a little unhappy to see that the little girl didn’t die in that one scene with the water… and yet they cut bishop in two… whats up with that. Another thing is that i have this… fobia i guess with not wanting to see fingers and/or toes hurt in anyway and when bishop did that one thing with the knife…”the trick”… that alone had me at the edge of my seat. Crap now i gotta watch it… or i won’t sleep.
@vic
I’m not trying to diss “Alien” either vic… it was just that i had seen “Aliens” first… then the other one second and i saw it back to back… i was still high on the battle with the queen to then slow things down with the first one. Still both of them great movies… didn’t really like the third one though… much rather would see ressurection or even any of the avp’s… just because of the predators who i favor more…
@hud
predator 2 was awesome… but its ok… you didn’t like it. Seeing the smart disc, spear, net, etc… and danny glovers most powerful line in any action movie that he has been in… (in my opinion that is) “Who’s Next…?”. But you don’t like it so it’s ok… more predator 2 for me…
@ken j
Another great scene… i think it was when they went in for the first time ,the marines that is… and the radar is telling them that they’re surrounded but they don’t see the aliens. When they were in them prefectly designed wall scripture like holes… genius. Sorry Screenrant for going off topic again… but its your fault for making me remember that movie…it was awesome…now i gotta make a sandwich or something if i’m going to watch this now…
@jago, if you’re talking about one of the best single action scenes, then that would be it. They practically copied that first part of that scene in Predator 2, straight up stole it. It was when they suited up in their cold suits and went into the meat locker, they had the cameras that were on all of those monitors inside the trailer, they had those tracker things that they were watching on their monitors just like in Aliens, then Danny Glover noticed the Predator’s movement showed he knew they were there. Danny Glover tried to get on the radio to tell them to “get your men out of there” just like Ripley did in Aliens, then he was stopped from that (like Ripley was told to shut up in Aliens), and the guy watching the monitor (Adam Baldwin in Predator 2) started to panic just like Lt. Gorman paniced in Aliens, then Danny Glover ran off to take action himself like Ripley did. The only difference is Danny Glover in that scene didn’t drive the trailer to them, lol.
But if you watch it, you’ll see what I mean, I just saw it the other day, and damn Predator 2 is a cheesy movie, lol. It was so typical mid 90′s.
I don’t want a reboot either, but I don’t want a prequel. I’d say I’d be fine with an entirely different cast at a later futuristic point in the Aliens universe.
I’d like a prequel so we can know what the hell that thing was mummified to the chair.
Vic is right, Alien was #7 on the American Film Institutes list of 10 best Sci-Fi’s
Lord Garth is right too.
“Worst idea in the long, sad history of bad ideas” -Jeff Goldblum
I’m so FREAKING sick and tired of reading the words, Reboot and Remake! Aren’t there any original ideas out there and studios willing to back them?
Oh yeah,.. They’re called ‘Indie’s’ now.
Don’t really like that top 10 list. It seems like they want to keep to the original rather than list a sequel on the list (besides T2), looking at Alien, it should be Aliens in my opinion, and Star Wars Episode IV, it should be Episode V.