Ridley Scott Abandons Alien Prequel

An anonymous reader writes "With Ridley Scott and 20th Century Fox announcing that the much-vaunted 3D Alien prequel has now mutated into an original SF film project called Prometheus, starring Noomi Rapace, the author of this article recalls his 2007 interview with the late Dan O'Bannon, who presumably is happy about the news, wherever he is. Asked what he'd like to see happen to the xenomorph franchise, the Alien co-creator said: 'I'd like to see it stop. A horror movie's a fragile thing, and once you've gotten past the original, it isn't scary anymore. So you do a bunch of sequels to a horror movie, all they do is drain any remaining impact out of the original...it's not as effective as it would have been if you had just left it alone.'"

From TFA

[Suki I]

Prometheus will star Rapace as scientist Elizabeth Shaw (cast by Scott after the director was impressed with her work in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), with Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie mooted as possible co-stars in a script that previous rumours have outlined as featuring a female-manned spaceship crew with a distinctly lesbian atmosphere.

Now, what was wrong with the old outline?

Phew!

[skribe]

Good thing they stopped at one sequel then: Aliens.

Re:Alien in 3D?

[M. Baranczak]

"My Dinner With Andre" in 3D? Inconceivable!

Re:Applies to all movies

[Sulphur]

So you do a bunch of sequels to a horror movie, all they do is drain any remaining impact out of the original

I'm sure this applies to any hit movie. I mean, the first time they made Scary Movie, it was a guilty pleasure. Now it's, well, just dull. There are few exceptions. Empire Strikes Back thematically seems better than Star Wars. The revelation of the relationship between Luke and Darth Vader was good enough to be parodied by Toy Story (was it 2 or 3?). But the Star Wars prequels? Maybe the producers should take a hint.

How about a cowboy version : Use the Horse Luke.

Re:From TFA

[Dogtanian]

And what the hell is a "distinctly lesbian atmosphere"? 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% oestrogen?!

Re:Applies to all movies

[S.O.B.]

How about a cowboy version : Use the Horse Luke.

How about a computer version - Use the Source Luke.
Or a Scandinavian version - Use the Norse Luke.

Re:Applies to all movies

[martin-boundary]

In my opinion future movies could still succeed as action thrillers

I have to agree. What the Alien franchise really needs is a badass superhero type with witty one liners and a catchphrase, maybe "yipee ka yay" or something, and an emo teenage sidekick who can complain throughout the movie but saves the day when the Alien queen is about to bite off the hero's head. And a chihuahua alien hybrid who can do funny tricks (for the xmas merchandising).