20th Century Studios
In 1979, Ridley Scott ventured into a terrifying part of the cosmos (inspired by the echte nightmares of H.R. Giger) and came back with a terrified crew and an unexpected extra guest. “Alien” forever transformed the horror science fiction genre, showcasing Scott as a talented and at times innovative director who brought to life a terrifying narrative filled with acid blood and shattered rib cages.
Nearly four decades later, Scott revisited the realm of the flawless creature to delve into its origins in “Prometheus.” The anticipation was immense, bolstered by a star-filled cast featuring Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Michael Fassbender, in a story described as not a direct prequel to “Alien,” but rather intertwined with its “DNA.”
Whether tied to the original horror or not, “Prometheus” received mixed reviews, with some admiring the refined space narrative that dared to ponder our origins, while many desired increased alien activity of the Xenomorph kind. “They were eager to see more of the original [monster], and I believed he was quite finished, with an orange in his mouth,” Scott remarked to Yahoo! “So I realized: ‘Wow, OK, I made a mistake’.” Consequently, a recalibration for the franchise was initiated, not solely due to audience demand, but because the reaction validated what Scott had long contemplated.