More than half of those who had watched the movie “Prometheus” when it was released to theaters in 2012 were not aware that the film was actually part of a prequel trilogy to the iconic “Alien” movie franchise of critically-acclaimed director Ridley Scott.
So with the exception of Ridley Scott and the lethal xenomorph alien that appeared towards the end of “Prometheus,” there seems to be hardly a connection between the 2012 film with the four-movie franchise that started way back in 1979 starring Sigourney Weaver.
It was only after the movie came out on cinemas and the reviews started trickling in that viewers realized that “Prometheus” was indeed part of a three-film prequel to “Alien.”
While many were confused with its plotline, the fact that “Prometheus” made $404 million in the box-office when it was released to theaters, a sequel became very necessary. It was already necessary as it is since Scott promised a prequel trilogy, but “Prometheus 2” even became more imperative with the box-office success of its predecessor film, notes Games Radar.
Shifting to high gear
With an August 4, 2017 play date on global theaters, pre-production and initial filming work for “Prometheus 2” have already started and the movie’s official title is now “Alien: Covenant.”
The August 4 release date was also a push-forward from its previously announced October 6, 2017 play date.
Filming shall reportedly go into high gear early next year which means that Ridley Scott would have to work on it for a few more months behind the camera to be able to come up with a finished product before the end of spring to be able to meet the film’s summer release date, cites the Cheat Sheet.
Director Ridley Scott, who is helming “Alien: Covenant” just like the first two “Alien” films and “Prometheus,” has been dropping hints as to what exactly fans can expect from the anticipated follow-up movie.
In addition to previously making the full disclosure on the movie’s official title, Ridley Scott also confirmed that actor Michael Fassbender is set to reprise his original role of the synthetic David in the upcoming “Prometheus” sequel. David is the lone survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition in the original movie.
Going into uncharted paradise
Producers 20th Century Fox also released the synopsis of “Alien: Covenant” early this year and alluded that the crew of the colony ship Covenant will go through an uncharted paradise in their mission to go to a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy. It is on the planet where they will find David.
Unbeknown to them, the xenomorph alien is also on the same planet and that is where all the excitement and suspense shall emanate.
While Ridley Scott has previously confirmed early this year that actress Noomi Rapace would no longer be reprising her role as Elizabeth Shaw in “Alien: Covenant” the way she did in “Prometheus,” there are now rumors saying that the actress may be back in the sequel after all.
She was recently spotted in Australia to shoot weeks worth of scenes in “Alien: Covenant.” Previously, reports were saying that Katherine Waterston shall be taking over the role of Noomi Rapace as the franchise’s new female lead. So it would be interesting to see both Rapace and Waterston in the film.
While it generated a mixed reception from film critics in 2012, “Prometheus” earned $404 million at the worldwide box-office to guarantee a sequel.
“Alien: Covenant” shall allow Ridley Scott to return to the universe he himself created with the “Alien” franchise back in 1979, considered by critics as a seminal work of science fiction.
In addition to Waterston, other new cast members for “Alien: Covenant” include Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, and Demian Bichir.