Ridley Scott on Alien Prequel

The latest press junkets for Ridley Scott's Robin Hood are being treated as golden opportunities to probe the upcoming Alien Prequel. When he sat down with MTV this week he revealed certain gems to the his planned Alien prequel.


In its current state the film is being polished up and being readied for production; "As we speak, I've got a pile of pages next to me; it's like the fourth draft. It's a work in progress, but we're not dreaming it up anymore. We know what the story is. We're now actually trying to improve the three acts and make the characters better, build it up to something [we can shoot]. It's a work in progress, but we're actually making the film. There's no question about it, we're going to make the film.

Now it's a matter of, how good can I get the screenplay in the next few weeks so I can get a good ballpark figure of what it will cost. I've already got people working graphically on designs for the various requirements of the film."

As it has been revealed before the film will focus in thirty years previous to the original Alien and will centre on the orginal spaceship that was discovered. " It's set in 2085, about 30 years before Sigourney [Weaver's character Ellen Ripley]. It's fundamentally about going out to find out 'Who the hell was that Space Jockey?' The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle — there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer's chair. Remember that?

And our man [Tom Skerritt as Captain Dallas] climbs up and says "There's been an explosion in his chest from the inside out — what was that?" I'm basically explaining who that Space Jockey — we call him the Space Jockey — I'm explaining who the space jockeys were."

And this is not all after the rehashing or 'homages' as Scott suggests to his origianl work he will look to freshen up the look of the infamous xenomorphs with a renewed collaboration with H.R.Giger. "Yeah, the thing about "Alien vs. Predator" is, I know it's commerce, but what a pity. I think, therefore, I have to design — or redesign — earlier versions of what these elements are that led to the thing you finally see in "Alien," which is the thing that catapults out of the egg, the face-hugger."

And still there is more; Scott wants two movies. Scott asked by Collider stated that the idea is that there would be "Prequel one and two, then Alien 1." With the first to hit the screenslate 2011 or 2012.

While you digest the news, we wait with anticipation for more news.

MATT RICHARDSON

SAW VII THE RETURN OF CARY ELWES

Ever wondered what happened to the footless wonder of Cary Elwes' Dr Lawrence Gordon as sequel after sequel in the saw saga moved along, Lionsgate have announced that you'll find out out your answers in the next outing Saw VII.

The film's synopsis has been revealed as thus: "As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gather to seek support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror."

Will the inclusion of Elwes signal the final curtain call for the Saw franchise and tie up the loose ends? Well the screenwriter Patrick Melton has stated "I can't say anything official yet, but i think the thought around the camp is that let's solve all questions by the end"

Kevin Greutert will be directing after being brought back from fellow Halloween competitor Paranormal Activity 2 which is due around the same time this year.

The film will arrive in 3D October 22, 2010.

MATT RICHARDSON

Cronenberg's Dangerous Method

The third collaboration between Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg has recieved the Hollywood treatment; no longer titled The Talking Cure, it will henceforth be The Dangerous Method. Upping the stakes of effective marketing Methods and playing on the titles of History of Violence and Eastern Promises it certainly lends the project more appeal, if only in name.

The film adapted by Chrisopher Hampton's Dangerous Liaisons revolves around Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) arguing with his pupil Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), and Jung's affair with the emotionally volatile patient Sabina (Keira Knightley).

Shooting starts next month.

MATT RICHARDSON

Edgar Wright's Ant Man Crawls Forward.

Marvel continue to strike while the iron is hot within their back catalogue characters with their hopes to bring Ant Man to big screen being pursued with Edgar Wright [Scott Pilgrim]. Despite Iron Man 2 taking up their focus with it immienent due date, Marvel's Kevin Feige has revealed some news about Wright's Ant Man.

Wright himself is very bust applying the polish to Scott Pilgrim Versus The World in post production with the film set for an August release. Of course once finished he will have the worldwide press junket to take up the rest of the year. But Marvel Studio's have been snatching time to have Wright in their California offices to strike out a proposed time-scale on the project.

Via Superhero Hype, Feige reveals: "Edgar was in LA last week, we sat down, and we started working on a calender of when to get him back into it once he finishes promoting Scott Pilgrim, so i think towards the end of this year, early next year we'd start looking at early prep for that, but certainly for a release date after The Avengers."


The information that we can take from this is that Ant Man at least will not hit the screens until after The Avengers 2012, side note this film currently has no officially signed director even with al the talk of Joss Whedon attached, this not concrete? Is our man Wright in contention? Secondly, and most frustrating, we must assume that any collaboration with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost for the final of the Cornetto trilogy [Shaun of the Dead and Hott Fuzz] is going to have to wait.

MATT RICHARDSON

Ghost Rider Two On The Cards

The word on the New York Vulture Blog is that Ghost Rider is set for a sequel and crucially even without it star attraction; Nicolas Cage. While the first was panned by critics worldwide, it did make good business, $270million's worth to be exact, so a sequel was inevitable.

Columbia Pictures brought the first outing to screen back in 2007 and it appears that their hand has been pushed in pursuing development on its sequel now rather than later; If production does not start in November, the rights revert back to Marvel (now owned by Disney), so its a case of now or never.

The script is reportedly at the a stage where Flash Forward writers Scott Gimple and Seth Hoffman have handed in a completed draft overseen by David S. Goyer. Apparently now the studio is eyeing up possible directors with no room for Mark Steven to return

As it stands with the need to push forward on the sequel it could see the end of Cage's involvment with his previous engagements, promotional duties for The Sorcerer's Apprentice and a third National Treasure on his plate already this summer, so whether he could be in place by November to roll cameras is at this stage unclear.

MATT RICHARDSON

Final Destination 5 Update: Writer Hired

Where do you go after the "Final Chapter"? Well back again of course. After announcing that the Final Destination franchise was to live another day, New Line have now hired Eric Heisserer to form the script.


After all, Heisserer's reputation is on the rise, having delved into projects with known difficulties, take a bow Nightmare on Elm Street 2010 and The Thing prequel, he has been credited with the screenplays and getting them out the development mire.


According to Heat Vision Blog, the Final Destination series could do with a similar resuscitation, after all it is supposed to be done and dusted, and the last film in particular did not score highly with critics, but made enough money to secure another sequel.


Yet, the question remains; where could Heisserer take this one? Unless studio execs are willing to create a picture with a story arc revolving around actually breaking the inevitable 'design of death', or indeed bring more back-story to previous instalments to actually make the film interesting. Without this change in perspective it is likely to be just another lame excuse to watch a group of photogenic's get burned up, harpooned and split-in-two.


MATT RICHARDSON

BARGAIN BASEMENT DAILY: Johnny English, Sequel?!

*Warning Sarcasm Ahead*

Yes, no kidding, here’s Johnny! English that is and he is back for more goofball antics. Following the fantastic success of revisiting Bean in Mr Bean’s Holiday in 2007, Universal have decided to strike for gold once more with the sequel to the Rowan Atkinson vehicle: Johnny English.  

So we may be a tad over enthusiastic here, but we really cannot defend Universal on this one, so we’ve gone the over way. The original raked in $161 million around the globe and it seems that is enough to get production rolling on the sequel.

Rowan Atkinson will return as the bumbling spy who will likely save the day in the most unlikely way. To add a bit of spice to this news, none other than Oliver Parker director of the St Trinian’s escapades will helm, with the Mr Beans Holiday scribe Hamish McColl has written the script.

With such heavyweight Hollywood hitters on board, the sequel will surely be the biggest hit of the year, and the hot anticipation will begin to build when the cameras start rolling in August, perhaps not. 


MATT RICHARDSON

Condon Closing In On Breaking Dawn

Not so long ago you would have been laughed out of a Twilight convention if you announced that an Oscar nominated director would direct the final instalments of the Twilight Franchise. That was then, this now. It has been reported that Dreamgirls’ Bill Condon is finalising a deal that will see him helm the split Breaking Dawn concluding chapter of Stephanie Meyer’s smash-hit.

That’s right, Variety bring word that talks up to now have ran a smooth course, unlike the Meyer’s final novel. Indeed this will be a challenge to bring together all the action and happenings within the two film split, and create a cohesive finale.

Franchise regular Melissa Rosenberg, scribe to all the Twilight film releases is carving out proposed scripts now. With Condon having set Salmon Fishing In The Yemen to shoot this year, it remains to be seen whether it will begin as scheduled. After all, rights holders Summit Entertainment have not been inclined to wait; just ask Catherine Hardewicke. 

MATT RICHARDSON

HOT TOPIC: ALL YOU NEED IS KILL

Coming from the left-field is something that is highly uncommon these days in the Hollywood movie industry. However, Warner Brothers has done just that when they picked up All You Need Is Kill. No it’s not a franchise, no it does not include vampires and no it is not a comic book adaptation. So just what the hell is it?

Well, it is a new-wave Japanese Sci-Fi novel written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. The book focuses on an alien invasion, Keiji Kiriya is a new recruit of the United Defence Force, a task force with one objective: Kill.

He along with many other recruits must fight to save the entire world from obliteration. O.K. so it’s not all that original. But here is the twist. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to find himself reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. At a push we would gather that this is not the best day to relive over and over again, we know Bill Murray wouldn't approve. Yet, there is a purpose with each attempt Keiji learns, adapts and has the chance to change his future and the worlds.

For those who have watched Groundhog Day, they will understand where this is going. And we like it. It’s a nice complex mix with plenty of potential and makes it stand out amongst the crowd of recent announcements. Duck and cover now National Treasure we’re targeting you in our sights.

Watch this space this could get interesting.

MATT RICHARDSON

Fright Night For Anton Yelchin

In March we reported that momentum was building on the DreamWorks’ remake of Fright Night, then it was the appointment of director Craig Gillespie. Now, Anton Yelchin (Star Trek, Terminator Salvation) is in negotiations to play Charley Brewster in the Vampire Comedy Horror.

The film centres on the Vampire living next door and don’t you know it, know one believes Charley when he tells them. So whose he gonna call? A washed up horror actor of course.

As of yet there is no start date for the picture. But the premise for the film is a winner in a post-Zombieland universe a lot of fun can be had with imaginative license. They just have to find an inspired casting like Woody Harrellson

MATT RICHARDSON

Olivia Thrilby - The Darkest Hour

Olivia Thrilby is forshizz best known for her supporting turns in Juno and The Wackness, Honest to blog. But now she has snapped up one of the leads to The Darkest Hour, a Sci-Fi action from the producer Timur Bekmambetov. Like, for real for real!

O.K. enough with the quote rips, but seriously the film revolves around a group of American tourists who visit Moscow, that’s like - in Russia or something, and gosh-garnet an alien invasion comes to town. Thrilby will star as a trust-fund traveller trying to survive the encounter.

Chris Gorak (Right At Your Door) is the man behind the lens, with the script being tinkered with as we report alongside Josh Zeturner. The film will be shot at Bekmambetov’s custom-built production facility in Moscow.


MATT RICHARDSON

Ryder Is A Cheater - Who Knew?

Winona Ryder has joined the Vince Vaughn and Kevin James cast of Ron Howard’s latest comedy, Cheaters. Or Your Cheating Heart.

Penned by scribe Allan Joeb (21, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) The film for the uninitiated will centre on best friends Vaughn and James seeing their relationship but under strain, after Vaughn spots James’ wife (the now cast Ryder) getting up to some dirty tricks with another man.

We predict another debacle of a comedy to join the ever-increasing list titled: Vaughn miss-fires. Honestly, has anyone compromised his or her integrity as an actor for shameless profit? Fred Claus, Couples Retreat, Four Christmases…Just painful.

Howard is all set to get the cameras rolling in Chicago anytime now, with the movie arriving some time next year.

The Next Marvel Heroes Are Runaways

While the more well known Marvel heroes such as Iron Man 2, Captain America and Thor are currently developing into their own franchises, it would suggest Marvel have their hands full, or perhaps not, with Runaways in prime position to be their next, after Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) has signed on to direct.

For the uninitiated, Runaways is the creation of Brian K Vaughn known for also being the man behind Y: The Last Man. It is an original tale set within the Marvel Universe that revolves around the teenage siblings of super-villains discovering that their parents have dark secret alter-evil-personalities.

Thus a battle ensues between the group of six – who all have inherited abilities – and their evildoer parents.

At this stage the film is in early development, with no cast set in place and the script in its initial draft phase penned by Vaughn himself.

MATT RICHARDSON

National Treasure III On The Cards

Courtesy of Coming Soon we have the unenviable announcement: National Treasure 3 is happening. They’re its over, uncomfortable? So are we. Of course this was inevitable, National Treasure hit the screens in 2004 and with the sequel Book of Secrets, in 2007 it’s a franchise that has acquired $800 million in box office receipts.


It has been reported that Jerry Bruckheimer is all set to get the project moving, and likewise Nicolas Cage has always been pro-sequel when it comes to this franchise, we are sure that he commented as such after the release of Book of Secrets. Right now, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro (Prince of Persia and The Sorceror’s Apprentice) are crafting the script for the third instalment.


Details for the direction of the third instalment are scarce, with no word whether Jon Voigt, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger and Helen Mirren will return this time out.

MATT RICHARDSON

Fincher Signs To Dragon Tatoo

Not to long ago we reported that David Fincher was circling a number of projects including: Heavy Metal, Pawn Sacrifice and The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Well now we can reveal that when Fincher next gets the camera rolling it will be for the English version of the latter.

It is a timely announcement with the release of the concluding installment to Stieg Larsson’s millennium trilogy: The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest was published today.

It appears that Fincher’s involvement in the Bobby Fischer Chess biopic Pawn Sacrifice was only an advisory role, with the playlist reporting he ‘met with the producers to help them out’, but was never in the running to actually direct the feature.

Heavy Metal remains in limbo however, but with a multitude od directing talent on board [Take your cue. Mr James Cameron, Zack Snyder and Gore Verbinski] Fincher’s involvement would not appear to be paramount to the projects green light.

The information we know is that the Dragon Tattoo in its translated form is being produced by Scott Rudin, with Steve Zaillian handed scripting duties. With such strong original material to work on, along with the critically accepted Swedish versions in the cinemas as a guide of How to, the focus now rests on casting.

Shooting is billed for September, watch this space.

MATT RICHARDSON

Alex Pettyfer Is Number Four

Alex Pettyfer, best known for his turn as the star of Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker is set to return to the big screen with another hopeful attempt of a seen before franchise, negotiating to star in the DreamWorks driven ‘I am number four’

Based on the James Frey and Jobie Hughes young adult Sci-Fi book, Four revolves around nine aliens who have fled as the only survivors of their now destroyed planet. They must hide, disguised as humans, from the authorities and their enemies here on earth, with the title character taking the form of a high school student.

Even in our non cynical estimation is this not Superman plus 8? Minus maybe some super human powers, or perhaps not.

Just to help clear this matter, Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar have written the screenplay [Because that was a stretch] Which DreamWorks hope to create a franchise, with the novel being the first of a planned six book series. So take what you will from this story, but if these guys start getting confused with birds and planes, we’ll be leaving the theatre before the credits role.

MATT RICHARDSON

Paul Greengrass Set For A Fantastic Voyage

Known for his visceral immediacy and hand-held majesty, Paul Greengrass is not the first name that would be drawn out if you were thinking about recreating a 1966’s classic Sci-Fi romp Fantastic Voyage, yet he is circling the job that is being produced by James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment.

According to Variety, the film is being treated as a big event movie by 2Oth Century Fox. It will be shot in the Cameron patented 3d technology used on the ground-breaking Avatar, in other words it will be properly shot in 3d, and not converted in the editing process of post-production like many new releases under the guise of 3d.

The script penned by Shane Salerno sees a scientist who is gravely ill, with no conventional help available, his colleagues are miniaturized and injected into the bloodstream so they can battle his medical issues with the help of a high-tech sub.

After the political yarns of the Bourne franchise and Green Zone dominating Greengrass’ work plate of late, it would indeed be a step in a different direction, but that just may be the point. There is a time when undeniable talent becomes tired and flat carving the same ornament each time, and this would provide a completely fresh challenge to his trademark style, there is no doubt that this project would deliver a very different Greengrass film, and we for one would love to see it. 

MATT RICHARDSON

The Dream Team: Disney Tie Up Henry Selick

Shortly after Henry Selick’s stop motion feature James and the Giant Peach was released for Disney, the decision was made to shut down all operations. But now the man who made the Oscar nominated Coraline has returned, rejoining with long time colleagues John Lasseter and Brad Bird.

His first release in 1993 for Disney did remarkably well, Nightmare before Christmas continues now through DVD sales and heavy merchandising in all of the Disney retail stores, it delivered profit and a creatively seductive film. However with James and the Giant Peach, he did not score enough profitability for Disney to see it as a viable option to continue with and Disney pulled out of the stop motion department.

Selick speaking variety sounds, well, chuffed. “I’ll quote Dick Cook right after James and the Giant Peach was finished. He said, ‘We don’t believe this is a viable medium anymore, and we’re not going to do it’. But with the return of Selick and the recent 2D animated feature The Princess and The Frog Selick announced “It’s great that both of those things are back”.

 The decision came down to John Lasseter, who once again proved his worth as one of the men at the top of the Pixar and Disney partnership. The story even eludes to the fact that Selick will no less have the Pixar ‘brain trust’ made up Bird, Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter among others, to ping his ideas off and collaborate with.

This is a telling new partnership that is likely to garner the cream of the future 2d, 3d and now stop motion animated features for the considerable future, by using common sense Lasseter is creating a group of individuals that together create a complex for creativity to develop.

MATT RICHARDSON

With Wall Street II: Money Never Sleeps wrapped up and awaiting it’s delayed Cannes premiere, Oliver Stone is scouring the market for his next venture and it is possible that he has found it in the shape of The Deep Blue Goodbye; an adaptation of John D MacDonald's novel of the same name.

The film will revolve around the protagonist Travis McGee a private eye/treasure hunter, with the story being largely based on the opening Goodbye book of a 21 book series first published in 1964.

Fox who have acquired the rights, are believed to be hoping to turn this into a money spinning franchise, on the surface it reads much in the same vain of a Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons set up revolving around detection, searching for something lost, fighting forces both bad and friendly, ultimately the protagonist coming out the victor.

However, the film is being produced through Leonardo DiCaprios’ Appian Way production company; with the proviso that he is attached to star as the titular character. But he is not exactly franchise fodder. But then again was Tom Hanks before Robert Langdon came a knocking? With a director of Stone’s caliber, Leo may just be tempted.

The plot for The Deep Blue Goodbye centers on McGee giving his life in Florida in order to search for missing treasure buried by a World War II soldier. The adaptation has not yet written, so any production of the film is not set for the immediate future, but if Stone and DiCaprio were to jump aboard, the franchise vehicle momentum will thrust forward. 

MATT RICHARDSON

Eastwood Eyes His Hoover

It was not to long ago that we reported that Clint Eastwood was circling biopic of FBI founder J.Edgar Hoover, now it appears that he has his eye on a particular collaborator: Leonardo DiCaprio.

DiCaprio has had a career that has seen him work with some for he best that the industry has to offer, with a long term collaboration with Martin Scorsese [Aviator, Gang’s of New York, The  Departed, Shutter Island], Steven Spielberg and James Cameron. It only seems natural that he should set his sights on working with evergreen director Eastwood, who can do very little wrong these days.

The film as we have mentioned before, will revolve around the launching of the FBI and the controversial figure of Hoover himself. While the agency launched an attack on crime in America, it simultaneously developed dark undertones with the agency using its power to obtain information to use against political and personal obstacles.

Nothing has been confirmed as of yet, but Leo speaking with Entertainment Weekly puts a positive spin on things. “There’s no contract, no anything, but I’m a huge fan of Clint’s.’Eastwood is no stranger to grabbing the best in the moment stars for his pictures, and In Dicaprio he would boast an actor who is on a seasoned run of successful and critically like films. Personally, we think that the combination could continue to produce good results.

MATT RICHARDSON