Prometheus Sequel? Screenwriter Solves the Mystery of the Final Scene Source: entertainment.time.com #screenwriting #film #story “Warning: Contains Spoilers The Prometheus debate rages on. Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller did big business this past weekend at the box office, but it also sparked a sprawling online debate as fans tried to break apart and dissect its cryptic themes. Some fans have focused on the film’s theories about human life (TIME’s Jeffrey Kluger surveyed Scott’s scientific grounding in a post published yesterday), while others were more interested in how Prometheus linked up to the existing Alien franchise. (Spoilers ahead) I rambled for about 1,000 words yesterday, on how I connected the plot’s various points, in relation to the Alien universe. But still, at the end of the film, I was plagued by a big question that needed solving: In the very last shot of the film, we see a spaceship take flight away from an alien planet. It is being piloted by a robot — well, half a robot, as his torso was left behind on the planet surface — and he is accompanied by the last remaining survivor of a doomed human expedition. The robot says he can take her back to Earth. But, disillusioned and having just witnessed both the murder of her lover and the obliteration of her personal and professional belief structures, the doctor says that she’d rather use the spaceship to travel to the home world of whatever aliens ruined her life. Where was the ship ultimately heading, in that final shot? It’s anybody’s guess. (MORE: See TIME’s complete Prometheus coverage) A few days before Prometheus opened, I had the chance to interview screenwriter Damon Lindelof, and I ended the Q&A (read his full thoughts on the movie here) with talk of that final scene. I promised not to publish his answers until the film had already opened. Here’s the exchange: TIME: In that final scene, David wants to go to Earth, and Elizabeth wants to go to the alien home world. Where do you think they’re going? Lindelof: I think they’re going where she wants to go. His fundamental programming has been scrapped. Weyland [the man who built and programmed him] is dead and so now his programming is coming from God knows where. Is he being programmed by Elizabeth, or is it his own internal curiosity now that Weyland isn’t telling him what to do any more? He’s always been interested in Elizabeth, remember that: He’s watching her dreams when she’s sleeping in much the same way that he watches Lawrence of Arabia. He’s a strange robot that has a curious crush on a human being, and when Weyland is eliminated, I think he is genuinely interested in what she’s interested in. He reaches out partly for survival, but partly out of curiosity, and I think he’s sincere that he’ll take her wherever she wants to go. (Steve again): Which means, of course, that she’s heading to the alien home world, in search of answers of why they created us, and then set out to destroy (or mutate) us. She’s headed for a confrontation, just as the alien monsters set out to spread across the universe, where the Nostromo will find them. Everything’s in motion — and a sequel can’t be far off.”
Pop-upView Separately

Prometheus Sequel? Screenwriter Solves the Mystery of the Final Scene

Source: entertainment.time.com

#screenwriting #film #story

“Warning: Contains Spoilers

The Prometheus debate rages on. Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller did big business this past weekend at the box office, but it also sparked a sprawling online debate as fans tried to break apart and dissect its cryptic themes. Some fans have focused on the film’s theories about human life (TIME’s Jeffrey Kluger surveyed Scott’s scientific grounding in a post published yesterday), while others were more interested in how Prometheus linked up to the existing Alien franchise.

(Spoilers ahead) I rambled for about 1,000 words yesterday, on how I connected the plot’s various points, in relation to the Alien universe. But still, at the end of the film, I was plagued by a big question that needed solving: In the very last shot of the film, we see a spaceship take flight away from an alien planet. It is being piloted by a robot — well, half a robot, as his torso was left behind on the planet surface — and he is accompanied by the last remaining survivor of a doomed human expedition.

The robot says he can take her back to Earth. But, disillusioned and having just witnessed both the murder of her lover and the obliteration of her personal and professional belief structures, the doctor says that she’d rather use the spaceship to travel to the home world of whatever aliens ruined her life. Where was the ship ultimately heading, in that final shot? It’s anybody’s guess.

(MORE: See TIME’s complete Prometheus coverage)

A few days before Prometheus opened, I had the chance to interview screenwriter Damon Lindelof, and I ended the Q&A (read his full thoughts on the movie here) with talk of that final scene.

I promised not to publish his answers until the film had already opened. Here’s the exchange:

TIME: In that final scene, David wants to go to Earth, and Elizabeth wants to go to the alien home world. Where do you think they’re going?

Lindelof: I think they’re going where she wants to go. His fundamental programming has been scrapped. Weyland [the man who built and programmed him] is dead and so now his programming is coming from God knows where. Is he being programmed by Elizabeth, or is it his own internal curiosity now that Weyland isn’t telling him what to do any more? He’s always been interested in Elizabeth, remember that: He’s watching her dreams when she’s sleeping in much the same way that he watches Lawrence of Arabia. He’s a strange robot that has a curious crush on a human being, and when Weyland is eliminated, I think he is genuinely interested in what she’s interested in. He reaches out partly for survival, but partly out of curiosity, and I think he’s sincere that he’ll take her wherever she wants to go.

(Steve again): Which means, of course, that she’s heading to the alien home world, in search of answers of why they created us, and then set out to destroy (or mutate) us. She’s headed for a confrontation, just as the alien monsters set out to spread across the universe, where the Nostromo will find them. Everything’s in motion — and a sequel can’t be far off.”

Damon Lindelof on Star Trek 2 Source: ign.com #screenwriting #film #story “While doing the publicity rounds for Prometheus, Damon Lindelof took some time out of his busy schedule to talk all things sci-fi with IGN. Our spoiler-filled interview concerning his much discussed collaboration with Ridley Scott will run next week, but for now, here’s what Damon had to say on the subject of Star Trek 2 (and what he didn’t have to say regarding the identity of the villain!). IGN: What’s going to set Star Trek 2 apart from the original? Lindelof: I think that the first one was in a lot of ways an origin story. It was about how the crew comes together and a love story between how Kirk met Spock. How this emotional guy who thinks only with his heart befriends this logical guy who thinks only with his mind. And this next movie is about what it’s like now that these people are a crew. IGN: Is it nice not to have to introduce everyone all over again? Lindelof: Yes. And I also feel like just figuring out the time travel of the first movie - we had to put so much time and energy, and invoke screen time and energy into explaining the mechanics of what we were doing, it’s just such a relief not to be burdened with that stuff in the second movie and just be able to plough forward and do new things without having to explain what their connection is to the original time-line. That was a lot of fun too. IGN: How is Captain Kirk different this time around? Lindelof: Kirk is now in the Captain’s chair, for the first time, not having shanghaied it. And he has to learn how to manage his responsibilities as a captain with these friendships and relationships that he’s forming with these people around him. And I think also we’re introducing what is a very cool and nuanced force of antagonism that’s a little different from the first movie, which was just a steaming Romulan ball of rage that needs to be stopped at all costs. IGN: So who is that villain? Lindelof: Are you insane? I’m not going to tell you that! Star Trek 2 hits screens worldwide next May.”
Pop-upView Separately

Damon Lindelof on Star Trek 2

Source: ign.com

#screenwriting #film #story

“While doing the publicity rounds for Prometheus, Damon Lindelof took some time out of his busy schedule to talk all things sci-fi with IGN. Our spoiler-filled interview concerning his much discussed collaboration with Ridley Scott will run next week, but for now, here’s what Damon had to say on the subject of Star Trek 2 (and what he didn’t have to say regarding the identity of the villain!).

IGN: What’s going to set Star Trek 2 apart from the original?

Lindelof: I think that the first one was in a lot of ways an origin story. It was about how the crew comes together and a love story between how Kirk met Spock. How this emotional guy who thinks only with his heart befriends this logical guy who thinks only with his mind. And this next movie is about what it’s like now that these people are a crew.

IGN: Is it nice not to have to introduce everyone all over again?

Lindelof: Yes. And I also feel like just figuring out the time travel of the first movie - we had to put so much time and energy, and invoke screen time and energy into explaining the mechanics of what we were doing, it’s just such a relief not to be burdened with that stuff in the second movie and just be able to plough forward and do new things without having to explain what their connection is to the original time-line. That was a lot of fun too.

IGN: How is Captain Kirk different this time around?

Lindelof: Kirk is now in the Captain’s chair, for the first time, not having shanghaied it. And he has to learn how to manage his responsibilities as a captain with these friendships and relationships that he’s forming with these people around him. And I think also we’re introducing what is a very cool and nuanced force of antagonism that’s a little different from the first movie, which was just a steaming Romulan ball of rage that needs to be stopped at all costs.

IGN: So who is that villain?

Lindelof: Are you insane? I’m not going to tell you that!

Star Trek 2 hits screens worldwide next May.”

‘Prometheus’ Script: Damon Lindelof Comments On Harry Knowles’ Review  Source: @HuffPostEnt #screenwriting #film #screenplay ““This was Damon Lindelof’s 2nd Draft,” wrote Ain’t It Cool News proprietor Harry Knowles on Friday, before diving into a script review of “Prometheus.” The coming film from director Ridley Scott hits theaters on June 8, but Knowles apparently got his hands on Lindelof’s screenplay. Except for the fact that he probably didn’t. “Hate to break it to you, @headgeek666 [Knowles’ Twitter handle], but there’s no ‘Planet Zeus’ in my draft,” Lindelof wrote on Twitter. “Or in @jonspaihts’ work. I think you’ve been duped!” Jon Spaihts is another credited writer on “Prometheus,” which exists in the same universe as Scott’s “Alien,” but isn’t a direct prequel. Knowles disagreed with Lindelof’s assertion, writing that the script he received —before the trailers for “Prometheus” debuted — featured scenes that “match so perfectly” with the marketing materials. Reached for comment by HuffPost Entertainment senior writer Mike Ryan, Lindelof maintained that Knowles’ script was phony……”
Pop-upView Separately

‘Prometheus’ Script: Damon Lindelof Comments On Harry Knowles’ Review 

Source: @HuffPostEnt

#screenwriting #film #screenplay

““This was Damon Lindelof’s 2nd Draft,” wrote Ain’t It Cool News proprietor Harry Knowles on Friday, before diving into a script review of “Prometheus.” The coming film from director Ridley Scott hits theaters on June 8, but Knowles apparently got his hands on Lindelof’s screenplay.

Except for the fact that he probably didn’t.

“Hate to break it to you, @headgeek666 [Knowles’ Twitter handle], but there’s no ‘Planet Zeus’ in my draft,” Lindelof wrote on Twitter. “Or in @jonspaihts’ work. I think you’ve been duped!” Jon Spaihts is another credited writer on “Prometheus,” which exists in the same universe as Scott’s “Alien,” but isn’t a direct prequel.

Knowles disagreed with Lindelof’s assertion, writing that the script he received —before the trailers for “Prometheus” debuted — featured scenes that “match so perfectly” with the marketing materials.

Reached for comment by HuffPost Entertainment senior writer Mike Ryan, Lindelof maintained that Knowles’ script was phony……”

Prometheus Screenwriter Damon Lindelof Discusses the Nature of Prequels Source: Reelz.com #screenwriting #film #screenplay “The question of how much director Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi movie, Prometheus is a prequel to 1979’s Alien probably won’t end until the movie opens in June. At WonderCon last month, screenwriter Damon Lindelof said that Prometheus would “will hopefully contextualize the original Alien so maybe you know a bit more,” but said that a Prometheus sequel would “tangentialize even further away from the original Alien.” According to Scott, Prometheus will have “strands of Alien’s DNA”, which is clear from the inclusion of the “Space Jockey” creature from the original Alien, but is that enough to call the movie a prequel? The answer isn’t cut and dried, and in an interview withBlastr, Lindelof explained why he doesn’t generally like prequels and how Prometheuseschews the typical definition……”
View Separately

Prometheus Screenwriter Damon Lindelof Discusses the Nature of Prequels

Source: Reelz.com

#screenwriting #film #screenplay

“The question of how much director Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi movie, Prometheus is a prequel to 1979’s Alien probably won’t end until the movie opens in June. At WonderCon last month, screenwriter Damon Lindelof said that Prometheus would “will hopefully contextualize the original Alien so maybe you know a bit more,” but said that a Prometheus sequel would “tangentialize even further away from the original Alien.”

According to Scott, Prometheus will have “strands of Alien’s DNA”, which is clear from the inclusion of the “Space Jockey” creature from the original Alien, but is that enough to call the movie a prequel? The answer isn’t cut and dried, and in an interview withBlastr, Lindelof explained why he doesn’t generally like prequels and how Prometheuseschews the typical definition……”