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Wednesday
10Jun2009

Fox Wants Ridley Scott to Direct 'Alien' Prequel

DateWednesday, June 10, 2009 at 9:48AM
As hesitant as I am to get behind an Alien prequel, I'm even less enthused about the possibility that Ridley Scott might direct it. Entertainment Weekly, by way of The Playlist, says that's the first choice for Fox, and it shouldn't be too surprising. Scott is one of the more accomplished directors working, and studio boss Tom Rothman said last month that the only way to really do it is to have Scott on board.

At the time, everyone probably assumed that meant getting Ridley as a producer, in large part because it's 30 years later and Scott also has a mountain of other projects. But Fox reportedly isn't interested in going forward with this at all unless Scott is behind the camera.

But why don't I want him to direct it? Because Fox has had no clue what to do with the property since 1986, or certainly since 1992, when the third movie came out, and if Scott really wanted to make more Alien movies, he would've directed the second one.

Empirically, there have only been two good Alien movies, and both of them are classics. The other two direct descendants and their AvP cousins are lousy. So my fear is that Fox still doesn't know what it has and will impose what it think makes the movie blockbustertastic, thereby missing the point and the vibe of the first movie altogether. Hiring a director like Ridley Scott does nothing to show me Fox wants to rebuild this franchise at all; if anything, it's a more desperate move than using Ridley and Tony Scott's supposed pick, Carl Rinsch.

I don't believe the kitchen sink principle works a lot of the time in movies. And I certainly don't believe that would work here, where the prequel I've heard about is designed to be pretty lo-fi, a lot like the first one. Bringing back Ridley jumps up the budget and the expectations and before you know it, Tom Rothman is ordering sets to be repainted.

Nope, I don't like this idea at all.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , , , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment3 Comments |

Reader Comments (3)

I would love another Alien movie. Doesn't have to be a prequel, or have Sigourney Weaver in it. Just make it good. I'd even be up for another Alien Vs Predator movie if they could just make it good.
And Ridley Scott is not a good idea for the next one. The Alien franchise has always been up and coming directors. Not too established ones.
And I like Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. They weren't the classics that Alien and Aliens are, but good movies.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCharcole

I agree whole-heartedly with this article. Fox, just be happy Ridley Scott is involved at all! What luck to have him as a producer on an Alien prequel...don't blow it!

Both Scott and Cameron were fairly new to film, and both had monster successes. I would just be happy Ridley Scott is involved at all, and trust that he wouldn't hand-over a prequel to his 1979 masterpiece to just any joe-schmo director; he probably knows exactly what he is doing. Have a little faith and don't blow the opportunity for a great prequel.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterTony

I would really like to see, I know this sounds crazy Chris Nolan direct it. He may not be the best at action scense but sure knows how to build suspense. I'd rather take Ridley Scott to direct it over about 99% of all Directors out there though. We don't need other Alien Vs. Predator flicks and certainly not another Resurrection.

As far as I am concerned they killed the whole Alien Vs Predator movies. My two issues with them were that they occurred in present time and here on earth.

They REALLY needed to make it in the future and on another planet/ spaceship. Might have been respectable. But nope, they had to totally screw it up.

Two requests for the prequel. No Ripely and no Nostromo. Lets see the story about the direlect ship, why it was transporting the eggs, and how it crash landed on LBV whatever planet it was.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterBrandon

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