Home Entertainment Damon Lindelof is officially NOT writing the sequel to PROMETHEUS

Damon Lindelof is officially NOT writing the sequel to PROMETHEUS

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…And that sound you hear is the collective sigh of relief from millions of fanboys around the world still nursing broken hearts from Lost. While I may not have had anywhere as big a problem as some did with Damon Lindelof’s writing on that famous TV show, I did have a problem with all the – and let’s call it what it is – dumb crap to be found in Prometheus script. Especially after reading Jon Spaihts’ original draft and realizing that a number of the issues I had, had already been fixed in that earlier version.

So if you were one of those dreading what Lindelof would come up with the sequel to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi blockbuster, then you can now rest easy.

Lindelof spoke to Collider about the sequel and confirmed what some had suspected earlier in the year in that that he would not be penning the next script. And no, it’s not because he’s heard your fanboy cries and feels guilty.

“Ridley [Scott] and I talked at great length during the story process of the first movie about what subsequent movies would be if Prometheus were to be successful.  And I think that the movie ended in a very specific way that hinted at, or strongly implied that there were going to be continuing adventures worthy of writing stories.  What those stories would be would not necessarily usurp or transcend the Alien franchise as we saw it because we know that the Nostromo hasn’t come along yet.  So the idea was to set up a universe that… Is it a prequel?  Okay.  If that’s what we want to call it, sure.  But the sequel to this movie is not Alien.  The sequel to this movie is this other thing.

So Ridley and I talked about what that other thing might be, and he was excited about doing it.  But then I think what ended up happening was that the movie came out, and there was a reaction to the movie.  And I got really wrapped up in Trek, and really wrapped up in this movie that I’m producing and writing with Brad Bird.  And I have a TV project that I was really passionate about.  Ridley and I had a meeting after Prometheus came out where we started talking again about where this journey would go.  And in that meeting I said to him, unfortunately, before he could ask me and go through the discomfort of whether he was going to ask me or not… It’s sort of like having a date where you’re letting the other person know, “I’m in another relationship.”  So I can’t tell you that he asked me and I said no.  But I did communicate to him that I was working on these other things.

The thing about Prometheus was it was a rewrite.  Jon Spaihts wrote a script and I rewrote it.  And still it was a year of my life that I spent on Prometheus, kind of all in.  The idea of building a sequel to it—from the ground up this time—with Ridley is tremendously exciting.  But at the same time, I was like, “Well that’s probably going to be two years of my life.”  I can’t do what J.J. [Abrams] does.   I don’t have the capability.  I’m usually very single-minded creatively.  I can only be working on one thing at a time.  So I said to him, “I really don’t think I could start working on this movie until I do this other stuff.  And I don’t know when the other stuff is going to be done.”  And he was like, “Well, okay, it’s not like I asked you anyways.”  He and I are on excellent terms and it was a dream come true to work with him.  But much to the delight of all the fanboys, I don’t see myself being involved in Prometheus-er.”

Firstly, Prometheus-er? Secondly, Damon Lindelof apparently sucks at multitasking. Now before all you Lindelof haters go jumping for joy at his departure, just remember that a number of the changes that Lindelof introduced into Spaiht’s draft, which failed so stupendously, was done at the behest of Ridley Scott. Who’s to say that the same won’t happen to whomever gets brought in to script the next one?

Personally, despite all the script bungles, I found that there were things about Prometheus that I really enjoyed and I would love to see where this story gets taken. So I’m hoping that Scott learns from mistakes and produces the film we were all hoping for.

Last Updated: December 20, 2012

5 Comments

  1. Thank the GODS! OVG will be delighted!

    Reply

  2. OVG

    December 20, 2012 at 11:31

    Scott lost the plot.
    Get rid of Sci Fi and get back to its roots of Horror Film.
    The franchise is so far up its own ass.

    Dont even get me started on AVP or Freddie vs Jason or any IP crossover. Its a fcking insult to IP.

    Ohhhhh I know…said some twerp over at Twerp HQ. Lets do a cross over of Star Trek with Disneys Star Wars. Mark my words, some twerp has already pitched the idea to some money hungry fat cats…IN 3d.

    James Cameron still did the best Alien film. Scott is to big headed.

    Reply

  3. Decembermaloy

    December 22, 2012 at 16:37

    Thanks goodness, don’t have to see that gigantic space vagina again, wonder whose idea that was?

    Reply

    • Kervyn Cloete

      December 23, 2012 at 20:28

      That was actually based off one of HR Geiger’s original designs for the facehugger and then just supersized.

      Reply

  4. Yo! It's Jimmy Lenoir

    December 22, 2012 at 23:12

    I can rest with a smile on my face!

    Reply

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