WhenPrometheusfirst hit theaters in 2012, many fans were disappointed that there wasn’t much connection to directorRidley Scott’s iconicAlienfranchise. The filmmaker dropped a bombshell earlier this week when he revealed that hisPrometheus sequelwill now be calledAlien: Paradise Lost, stating that this follow up will “go into the back door of the very firstAlien.” While promotingThe Martian,Ridley Scottshed some new light on this sequel, teasing that the Xenomorph’s home planet may be called Paradise.
“Years ago, I kept mulling over whatAlien 2could be. I was fiddling around with some ideas. I was always fascinated with why this thing [the xenomorph] would be made, by whom, and for what purpose? The planet it was on - and I was looking at the dark side of the moon - would be called Paradise. Paradise is a very ominous word…”
It’s clear, then, that this movie is going to have some very close ties toAlien, something whichPrometheuswas sorely lacking. However, the name change has been in the works for some time, with the filmmaker revealing thatAlien: Paradise Lostwas always considered as a potential title. The filmaker dropped yet another huge piece of news, revealing that there will be a connection to the belovedAliencharacterRipley, played bySigourney Weaver.
“In a way it isPrometheus 2. It’s exactly the same story. But it was always in the works to be called that [Alien: Paradise Lost]. IsPrometheusactually taking us off course from where I’m going, which is actually backing into the firstAlien… I’ve even got connections with Ripley [in this], but I’m not telling you what.”
Even before the title was changed toAlien: Paradise Lost, many fans wondered how this movie would impactAlien 5, whichNeill Blomkampis directing andRidley Scottis producing. We already know thatSigourney Weaveris coming back to play Ripley in that film, which is said to be a direct follow-up to the firstAliensequel, 1986’s Aliens.Ridley Scottconfirmed thatAlien 5is still moving forward, with the sequel coming out afterAlien: Paradise Lost.
“I’m producing it. The design is for it to go out next, after this. This will go out first. It’s more associated with Ripley, it’s a completely different angle, it’s more of a sequel. I’m coming in from the back end.”
Alien: Paradise Lostwill pick up wherePrometheusleft off, with Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and the android David (Michael Fassbender) continuing their journey to find the Engineers' home planet. The director has said before that he wasn’t interested in bringing the classic Xenomorph creatures back in Prometheus 2, but it seems the filmmaker has had a change of heart. Here’s what he had to say, confirming that the Xenomorph’s will be present.
“I think I have to go again. We will see who made it, and why. That’s what’s interesting.”
At the end ofPrometheus, David literally lost his head, leaving some fans wondering how David will be portrayed in the sequel. Will Elizabeth Shaw just be carrying David’s robot head around for the entire movie? As it turns out, the director has something up his sleeve in regards to David, but he won’t reveal any details quite yet.
“It’s going to be better than that. It’s a very nice big idea I’ve got. It’s really great. You’re going to have to wait…”
For those who have complained about the lack ofAlienDNA, so to speak, inPrometheus, it seems that the filmmaker has addressed those concerns, and then some. Do you have any theories about howAlien: Paradise Lostwill connect to Ripley and the Xenomorphs? The director has already hinted at a third movie as well, so perhaps this franchise will provide the proper bridge toAlienthat fans have been hoping for.
