Ridley Scott, blah blah, Robin Hood—what about that Alien prequel we were promised? Turns out that it’s no longer just a far-off concept languishing behind whatever Scott’s next three historical epics will be: In an interview with MTV, Scott revealed that he was currently reviewing the fourth draft of an Alien script and that, “We're not dreaming it up anymore. We know what the story is…There’s no question about it, we’re going to make the film.” Pressed for details, Scott was surprisingly open:
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…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… Weyland hasn't joined Yutani yet, so they go and see Weyland. [The film] is about the discussion of terraforming—taking planets and planetoids and balls of earth and trying to terraform, seed them with the possibilities of future life.”
Balls, seeding with life—sounds hot, Scott. Other revelations: As with Alien, the main character will be a woman, though seeing as it takes place “before she was born,” Sigourney Weaver ‘s Ripley won’t be involved, except perhaps in a voiceover capacity. Also, Scott (not surprisingly) isn’t too keen on the way the look of the Alien has evolved into its current, Alien Vs. Predator state (“What a pity,” he says), so he plans on revisiting the earlier versions of the “face-hugger,” most likely with the help of original consultant H.R. Giger. And finally, he’s hoping to have it in theaters in late 2011, “or maybe the best date in 2012.” That does it: We’re throwing caution to the wind and going for full-on optimistic.