Alien Prequel Now An Original Movie Titled ‘Prometheus’ With Noomi Rapace

Jan 14, 2011 by Rob Keyes 

Ridley Scott’s heavily speculated prequel(s) to ‘Alien’ is now an original sci-fi work titled ‘Prometheus,’ starring Noomi Rapace. Does it take place in the Alien universe?

Breaking News: Twentieth Century Fox just sent out the most significant and unexpected update regarding Ridley Scott’s long-awaited Alien prequel. As it turns out, it’s no longer a prequel, sequel or any other sort of Alien franchise installment. Instead, Ridley Scott’s next major sci-fi project will be an original flick titled Prometheus.

Many actors have been rumored to be contending for a lead role in Scott’s Alien prequel but with the official announcement of the film’s title, and its confirmed release date, growing star Noomi Rapace has signed to star as one of the five main characters of Prometheus.

A literal buzz topic on the interwebs, Rapace has quickly earned well-deserved fame and attention for her critically acclaimed performance as the star of the original adaptation of The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. Rapace has been sought for many starring roles in Hollywood ever since, and was previously reported as a leading candidate for the part in this film.

As for how the new film idea came about, screenwriter Jon Spaihts (The Darkest Hour) had originally penned the prequel’s script, working with Scott. Since then, Damon Lindelof (Lost) has been working with him to reshape the screenplay into an original work. Lindelof had this to say about working with his idol on the project:

“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. When I sat in a movie theater as a kid, feet raised off the floor for fear that something might grab my ankles, I never dreamed in my wildest imagination I would one day get to collaborate with the man responsible for it. Working alongside him has been nothing short of a dream come true.”

As for what this film will be about, Scott explains that his imagination allowed him to get creative with the bigger picture of the Alien mythology, seemingly hinting that this may be some sort of spin-off.

“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 ‘Alien’s’ DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative. I couldn’t be more pleased to have found the singular tale I’d been searching for, and finally return to this genre that’s so close to my heart.”

This does confirm that the film is not titled “Paradise” as previously rumored and what we found out from the studio about it being only one film, instead of two.

Details on what the story will be about and what Alien elements will or will not be used are under lock and key, but with the press release also came the release date for Prometheus which is officially scheduled to hit theaters March 9, 2012.

Are you happy, confused or disappointed that Prometheus will not be a prequel to Alien?

Tell us your thoughts on this through Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant.

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BBC America’s New Executive Hire Signals Push for Original Programming

Cable television has seen a Renaissance as of late, and the American arm of the BBC wants a slice of the pie. Perry Simon, The General Manager for BBC Worldwide America, Channels, division has hired veteran executive Rachel Smith to the network. Smith will take the newly-created post of Vice President of Original Programming.

It’s easy to see why the BBC wants to expand its presence on cable. With the typically high-caliber original programming from premium channels HBO and Showtime, not to mention impressive offerings from the likes of AMC, FX and TNT, the American cable market is rife with possibilities for new viewership. BBC America has so far been content to rebroadcast popular content like Doctor Who and Top Gear from its mother network, along with reruns of UK-centric shows like The Tudors and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Creating the new Original Programming position and hiring an executive with producer experience is a clear indication of the BBC’s intentions.

Says Simon:

Rachel’s appointment marks an important milestone for BBC AMERICA, as we move into the development of original programming for the channel. Our aim is to create a slate that speaks to an American audience with the same quality, intelligence, irreverence and innovation that you expect from the BBC. This is an exciting new era for BBC AMERICA, and Rachel will play a key role as we move forward.

But for those of you hoping for the next Mad Men or Justified, wait a tick. Rachel Smith’s previous experience indicates that BBC America is interested in non-scripted reality TV for its original offerings. Smith’s best-known work includes developing the original Real Housewives of Orange County and Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List for Bravo. She’s lately been working for Discovery’s Planet Green channel, on shows like Operation Wild and Dean of Invention. The native Australian has cut her teeth on the reality boom, and its unlikely that a shift in employer will result in a shift in developmental style. If Smith’s resume is anything to go on, you can expect original reality TV from BBC America within a year or so.

What kind of shows can American audiences expect out of the anglophile network? The sky’s the limit, but if non-scripted is their choice, bet on UK-themed shows with an American twist. New Oxford grads making their way in Manhattan. British ex-patriots playing for Major League Soccer. Expect similar fare to pop up in BBC America’s primetime lineup in the next few seasons.

Source: Deadline Hollywood

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Original Cast Members Returning for ‘American Pie 4′

We had the chance to chat with Craig Perry, the producer behind the American Pie and Final Destination franchises, and get the scoop on what may be happening next for Stifler, “Band Camp,” Levenstein, and the rest of the American Pie gang.

Most notably, the return of several key characters for American Pie 4.

The producer had not originally intended for American Pie to become the lasting franchise that it is:

“When we were making American Pie, we would watch the dailies and say ‘ohh, it might make 30 million!’ You never really know. You just sort of know when things are working, and are grateful that they are working. It is hard to make any movie really, more to make one that actually works.”

American Pie went on to gross $235 million in worldwide theatrical sales – and inspire two traditional sequels American Pie 2 and American Wedding as well as a (more recent) series of strait to DVD releases. Audiences may now see a return to the original storyline and characters, and another theatrical release for the franchise, with American Pie 4.

Harold And Kumar writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg are penning the script and are also slated to direct the film - which would bring the original cast back together.

Perry is hoping to have a script to look at as soon as the new year. Technically the “new year” could mean any time in 2011 but the film is already (tentatively) scheduled for a 2012 release:

“If we get a script that everyone is exited about, then it is going to be all about the schedule.”

The producer knows that it will require some maneuvering to get all of the original cast members in the same place at the same time:

“Alyson (Hannigan) has got the show (How I Met Your Mother), and the baby. So there are a lot of people with a lot of things to do.”

Despite the challenges, Perry is determined to see a return of the original cast for the next film in the series:

“If you start whittling it down, then it is no longer what it is meant to me. Those characters have become part of the cultural lexicon, and I think there’s an interest in seeing where they are, because they haven’t been on screen in seven years. I think that’s a very effective way of backing into this is having people wonder ‘what did happen to those guys, what did happen to those girls?’”

It looks like, given the right script, audiences will have an answer to that question when American Pie 4 hits theaters in 2012.

Follow me on twitter @jrothc and Screen Rant @screenrant

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