We all suspected it would be the case after seeing the box office numbers, but now we finally know: big-ideas-meets-monsters-in-space Prometheus will officially be getting a sequel. Slated for release in 2014 or 2015, the new film will star Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender, though a new screenwriter may be taking on the project. From The Hollywood Reporter:
The studio’s big summer bet was Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, June’s sort-of Alien prequel. The $130 million-budgeted film grossed a solid but not spectacular $303 million globally, putting it right on the franchise bubble. Fox confirms to THR that Scott and the studio actively are pushing ahead with a follow-up (stars Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace are signed) and are talking to new writers because Prometheus co-scribe Damon Lindelof might not be available. “Ridley is incredibly excited about the movie, but we have to get it right. We can’t rush it,” says Fox president of production Emma Watts, who also has overseen the successful reboots of the X-Men and Planet of the Apes franchises.OK, geeks, here’s where I get excited. I actually loved Prometheus, though I’m the first to admit it had flaws. Alien franchise fans the world over are sharply divided on the flick, which had some spotty scenes and a couple of lame characters (seriously, that biologist), but dared to ask “big picture” questions and showcased such a bold, grand vision that I found it impossible to resist. It certainly didn’t hurt that it had strong, badass female characters (much like the franchise it is semi-based on) and basically re-imagined body horror for modern audiences weaned on zombie flicks and “classic” monsters of varying degrees of camp running all over the media landscape.
Perhaps the coolest part of the announcement is just how risky and brave the new film has the chance to be. Without spoiling anything, suffice it to say that the end of Prometheus opened the door to a sequel that can really tackle some of those “big picture” sci-fi questions in a very cool, even rather unique way.
Here’s to hoping Ridley Scott and crew can make something memorable with the new foundation they’ve built.
