By Jason Apuzzo. • The big news since our last Invasion Alert! was the announcement by Fox of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, a semi-prequel to Alien, Scott’s classic sci-fi horror thriller from 1979. As predicted here for many months, Noomi Replace has been tapped by Scott as the lead for this long-rumored project, with Angelina Jolie And Charlize Theron reportedly circling other roles. Also: Michael Fassbender was recently added to the cast, apparently to play an android. And, despite Scott’s coy public statements, early indications are that this film will, indeed, serve as a prequel to Alien – and that we may actually get two films following this new Prometheus storyline, as well.
So what is the Prometheus storyline? Lips are officially sealed but some interesting plot details have leaked … [SPOILER ALERT] suggesting that the story involves the discovery on Earth of alien DNA at a desert archaeological dig, followed by the lead characters’ jetting off to the original alien homeworld – a setting we haven’t set yet in the Alien series. (There’s already a lot of online chatter that Scott intends to shoot the film’s archaeological dig in Morocco.)
The word for years has been that Scott wanted to do a prequel to Alien that would tell the story of the non-human ‘space jockey’ from the first film (seen above), the fossilized/mummified creature in whose ship the alien eggs were initially found. I listened to Ridley Scott’s DVD commentary on Alien recently, in which he basically sketched out his conception of the Alien backstory: namely, that the race of ‘space jockeys’ were originally using the alien creatures as a kind of bio-mechanoid weapon to terra-form planets, prior to the creatures breaking loose in the ‘space jockey’ ship – the ship eventually discovered by the crew of the Nostromo. Of course, James Cameron later riffed off this theme of ‘military exploitation’ of the alien creatures in Aliens, and it’s easy to imagine Scott returning to this theme for Prometheus; the film’s title itself suggests the use of ‘forbidden’ technology, which the aliens would certainly represent. [END OF SPOILERS.]
We’ll be keeping a close eye on all this. My sense is that Scott was kicked in the pants to do this film by the success of Avatar; I doubt he wants to go down as second fiddle to Cameron – and, frankly, he shouldn’t. Suffice it say that although Scott has gone a bit daft in recent years, and become more aggressively left-wing, he remains one of sci-fi’s greatest filmmakers – and it’s exciting to consider what his return to this genre may hold. Prometheus is set for a June 8, 2012 release.
• Speaking of James Cameron, he recently committed to release dates in 2013 and 2014 for the Avatar sequels, and talked recently about some of the technical challenges he’s facing already on those films (such as underwater motion-capture, and the potential of filming in the Marianas Trench; he certainly doesn’t do anything the easy way, does he?) Also: Cameron claims that he still wants to do Battle Angel Alita, once he’s finally done with Avatar. We’ll see.
But that’s not all. Cameron also confirmed recently that Tom Cruise is interested in top-lining the epic alien invasion thriller At the Mountains of Madness (based on the Lovecraft novel) that he’s producing for Guillermo del Toro – although no deal is in place yet. (Del Toro also offers an update on that project here.)
• In the midst of her media blitz for Just Go With It, Brooklyn Decker recently talked with MTV about her forthcoming, $200 million alien invasion thriller from director Peter Berg, Battleship. You can check that interview out here. I can’t quite remember what she said, but I know she looked good saying it.
• Battle: Los Angeles is approaching. Images of the invading aliens have been leaked, plus new set photos, interviews and an on-set video blog are now available. I was initially quite enthusiastic about this film, but that’s cooled somewhat. We’ll see.
• Can you believe it? Some 25 years after it’s initial publication, Orson Scott Card’s alien invasion thriller Ender’s Game is now the hottest property being shopped around Hollywood (Card is a right-winger; did you know that?); although, of course, 25 years is nothing compared to the almost 100 years since Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars was published, and Pixar’s Andrew Stanton (WALL•E) offers an update on Disney’s live action adaptation of that novel here; John Carter of Mars is currently set for a March 9th, 2012 release.
• And guess who else is headed to Mars … Sinbad! No kidding, Charles Schneer’s son Barry wants to bring the Sinbad: Rogue of Mars comic to the screen in 2012 as a belated sequel to the wonderful Sinbad movies his father did years ago with Ray Harryhausen.
• Sinbad may not only be running in to John Carter up there on Mars, of course, but also Alexandre Aja’s Cobra the Space Pirate, another comic book/manga hero whom Aja (Piranha 3D) is planning to bring to the big screen soon, as well; Aja talked recently about that project here.
• On the Classic Alien Invasion Front: The New York Times reviews the latest triple-feature DVD release of Roger Corman’s Not of This Earth, War of the Satellites and Attack of the Crab Monsters; and we otherwise want to wish the great Zsa Zsa Gabor the best, as the star of the 1958 cult classic Queen of Outer Space continues to undergo more medical difficulties.
• In other Sci-Fi News & Notes: Director Gareth Edwards talks about the Godzilla reboot today; Matt Reeves And J.J. Abrams apparently haven’t found the right concept yet for Cloverfield 2; the J.J. Abrams/Steven Spielberg Super 8 will have a Super Bowl ad (along with Transformers 3 and Cowboys & Aliens); Spielberg’s forthcoming Terra Nova TV series continues to raise eyebrows, primarily due to its cost; Westworld is being re-booted (?!); Sony will be releasing Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium; V-babe Laura Vandervoort has a new interview out about the future of that series (which may not actually have a future, if its ratings continue to sag and its storyline irritates the fan base); and Liam Neeson will be returning to the Star Wars universe to voice Qui-Gon Jinn on The Clone Wars TV series.
• AND IN TODAY’S MOST IMPORTANT NEWS … Rosie Huntington-Whiteley of Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon just posed for the UK’s Vogue … and I’m suddenly not remembering Megan Fox any more, you know what I mean?
And that’s what’s happening today in Earth’s War on Alien Invaders!
Posted on February 4th, 2011 at 7:47pm.
Actually, Orson Scott Card is a registered democrat (or was very recently). I don’t know the man, but I read a weekly column he writes at hatrackriver.com. He is certainly no socialist, but the describe him as a right-winger is not entirely accurate. He really is more of a centrist (though that would maybe make him a right winger by hollywood standards).
I’m a little surprised to read this, because my understanding is that he’s quite conservative in orientation. A variety of people have told me this – but I will now check further.
I would say that you are kind of both kind of right. I would describe Card as a classical liberal, which in today’s bizarro world often draws the Conservative label. Right wing implies partisan leanings and I think Card is more a non-partisan Constitution/individual rights defender.
Well put. In any case, I like what he stands for!
. . . the discovery on Earth of alien DNA at a desert archaeological dig, followed by the lead characters’ jetting off to the original **** homeworld
I don’t find this premise particularly compelling. A lot of things have changed culturally and in movies since the original Alien film, one of which is that scientific verismilitude has been thrown out the window. In the original, earth is but a small insignificant speck lost in the vast universe and the mining ship stumbles over something that hints at far bigger goings on in the galaxy. This gives the concept far greater scope. The oh so cliche “ancient astronauts” thing ties the concept back to plup men’s magazines and “nut science” History Channel documentaries.
True, but I think it all depends on how the concept is executed. On paper the original Alien concept probably didn’t seem that strong, either; its plot was basically a mash-up of It! The Terror From Beyond Space and Planet of the Vampires.
Prometheus sounds fascinating — I’ve always wondered what an Alien homeworld would be like. I always just feared it would devolve into some Hollywood cliche on imperialism, corporate greed, or something stupid like that.
I’m also excited to see an Ender’s Game film, which is way overdue. Card is an interesting fellow: He’s a crusader for marriage (he’s probably made the most measured, articulate defense of the institution I’ve ever read), he’s aware of American exceptionalism, and he doesn’t care for moral equivalence, but he can be strangely touchy-feely PC at times.
And Qui-Gon’s appearance on Clone Wars was brilliant. Through two parts, the trilogy of episodes has been a deep, universe-expanding effort — truly brilliant stuff.
Great job, Jason. Rather than just post random items, you’ve woven all the news into a narrative. That’s brilliant.
I hope the site is driving revenue for you. Are you getting a cut of the Amazon listings? If so, you should feature that more at times. I’ll buy some stuff through here.
Hey, thanks for the kind word, Vince! To answer your question, yes we do get a cut of any Amazon purchases – so feel free to buy away!
I try to weave news items into a narrative when I legitimately see the news shaping up that way – which I do, in this case. This sci-fi/alien invasion trend is a major one that the industry (and even the indie film world) is pumping major resources into. Why else, for example, would Card’s novel be cropping up some 25 years later …
As far as Prometheus, it still could easily “devolve into some Hollywood cliche on imperialism, corporate greed, or something stupid like that.” I don’t put anything past Scott at this point, but his prior track record in sci-fi is so spectacular that I have to cut the man some slack; he might still have a masterpiece in him.
Thanks always for your readership, Vince.
BARRY SCHNEER IS CHARLES SCHNEER’S NEPHEW, NOT HIS SON. ALSO, RAY HARRYHAUSEN WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH BARRY SCHNEER THREE YEARS AGO WHEN BARRY TRIED TO CONVINCE HARRYHAUSEN TO WORK WITH HIM. SO, ANY FILM BARRY SCHNEER DOES BASED ON THE SINBAD COMIC BOOK WILL BE WITHOUT HARRYHAUSEN’S APPROVAL AND,BECAUSE BARRY’S UNCLE IS NO LONGER WITH US, THE PROJECT WON’T HAVE CHARLES SCHNEER’S APPROVAL EITHER.
OK, got it Brian. No need to go all-caps, there.
Let’s set the record straight, Barry Schneer is Charle’s nephew and had been working with him to develop the “Sinbad: Rogue of Mars” for some time with Ray. The concept of taking Sinbad to Mars was an original idea Harryhausen had back in the early 80’s (called Sinbad Goes To Mars) that was shelved because of the industry’s transition into CGI. The younger Schneer revamped the idea and had Bluewater create a comic series which Ray Harryhausen was a part of and which bears his name “Ray Harryhausen Presents”. From a friend close to Ray I learned that he was not thrilled with the comic story for a feature film, (which I too agree) which was the reason 3 years ago Ray snubbed the comic book story, to which the Schneers agreed, and began developing a more intricate script and storyline for a feature motion picture.
BUT, It had nothing to do with Ray not liking the project (afterall he first developed it) nor with Ray not wanting to work again with the Schneers, it was more about his health at the time. Morningside recently optioned the Sinbad story from Bluewater to sure up all their rights as to any comic book parallels, despite the “Sinbad: Rogue of Mars” story is not created from the comic story. As for Harryhausen, he is in his late eighties and rumors are that although Ray will not be making or articulating the creatures for the production due to his age, his creative input and some of his past monster designs that never made it to screen will be used in the new film. I think the fact that this film is coming to the big screen at all is a rare treat considering the time since the last Sinbad film, and doubt it will lack the history of the past.
Thanks for your input on this, Steve.
You are absolutely right!! Barry Schneer and Ray Harryhausen have been long-time family friends, with Ray knowing and having a great respect for Barry Schneer and the Schneer family for many years. As for Barry being Charles’ nephew, you may be surprised to know that Charles was the nephew of Abe Schneider (President of Columbia Pictures) which is what led him initially into the industry. I never met Barry Schneer personally but I have heard he is well liked and that the Schneer family has a very long and highly respected reputation in the business for over three generations. Although you try to knock it, I look forward to the new Sinbad; and I doubt this new generation of Morningside filmmakers would produce a film that would let their fans down or not pay homage to the classic work of Harryhausen. And for the record all caps is just plain rude.
Thanks for the input on this one, Adam.
I’m a fan of Orson Scott Card’s writing, and Ender’s Game is a terrific novel, but he completely jumped the shark with his endless sequels and prequels and alternative history whatnot about the Ender crew.
Yeah, it’s amazing how many sequels there are.