http://io9.com/is-the-prometheus-sequel-stalled-out-just-because-nobod-461244398
In some ways I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed. If you read the article I linked above, it talks about how the sequel to Prometheus has been stalled because of a very embarrassing situation; or at least it would be if anyone in this situation could feel embarrassment.
If you haven't read it yet, I'll summarize: Prometheus made around $400 million. And the way the movie ended was pure sequel bait. The script writer, Jon Spaihts, wrote the movie as a stand alone prequel to Ridley Scott's Alien made back in 1979. Well, the studio didn't really trust Spaihts to write a good script because he's a relatively newcomer so they brought in Damon Lindelof of Lost fame to polish up the script.
On the surface that doesn't seem like a problem. Spaihts isn't very well known. His only other work prior to Prometheus was a little known movie called, "The Darkest Hour". It was far from a blockbuster hit movie.
Which raises my first question: why did the studio tap an unknown screenwriter to write what was a sure multimillion dollar project? It's Ridley Scott directing a brand new "Alien" movie. That alone guarantees hundreds of millions of dollars. Did they not think the script deserved close attention? My guess would be the same problem with a lot of sci-fi movies these days: more money for effects, less for story. More money for top tier talented actors to plaster on the poster, less for dialog. If the studio felt they couldn't trust Spaihts to write a good story, so much they brought in Lindelof, why give him the assignment in the first place? The only answer I can think of is the agreed to do it cheaper.
I don't claim to be a brilliant writer, but I do know a few infallible fact about writing: (1) writers hate mandated re-writes and (2) when writers don't get along on a project, things get bad and quickly. That's largely what happened. The studio wanted to milk this out for as much as they could. They didn't want just one movie. They wanted a trilogy. So the studio told the writers to change the ending to lead into a trilogy. And the ending we got was about as clear as mud.
Since Lindelof was the guy to change the ending, and now he's on record saying he won't be involved in the sequel, the trilogy is in limbo.
And that's where I have to ask my next question: who should take the blame for this mess?
Can I blame the writers? It's a little hard to blame Spaihts because he did his job. At least according to this story he wrote a script that was to be a stand alone movie. Then the studio changed it's mind and wanted a trilogy. While the script wasn't very good, it at least had a different ending. Lindelof probably wasn't the guy to convince the studio to expand it into a trilogy. The studio saw dollar signs everywhere and wanted to cash in while they still had Ridley Scott committed to this project. He was brought in to edit. He did that. When asked to change the ending, he did it.
I definitely blame Fox Entertainment for the demands in the first place. Instead of having a good product that would make them hundreds of millions, they wanted three that would make them hundreds of millions. But that's par for the course. That is what the entertainment industry does. They don't care about art or quality, they care about how much money they can make. I think they have to share in some of the blame, but that's also a sign of the times.
How about Ridley Scott? I think if he didn't like the ending or objected to the demands of the studios, he could've walked off the project. If he did that, I doubt nearly as many people would've seen Prometheus. The movie wasn't really sold as an "Alien" sequel. It was sold as Ridley Scott coming out with a new sci-fi movie. We're talking about the guy who did Alien and Blade Runner; must see movies for any sci-fi fan.
In the end I really just have to blame this on a lack of foresight. If the ending is going to be changed, if the plan is going to be changed, then the trilogy should already be written. This isn't like playing a sport where if something goes wrong you make adjustments as you go. Writing is all about knowing what you are saying and how you want to say it. Even if the script for the other movies aren't done, there should be a clear path the movies should take. That isn't the case here and that's why everyone is panicking about what they are going to do for Prometheus 2.
If I were to give my suggestion it would be to pull the abort switch on the trilogy. Make a sequel, yes. Let's clean up the mistakes as best as possible, let's get the xenomorphs, establish the face-huggers... just fix the damage already done and end it. Have Dr. Shaw meet the giant albino aliens, have her learn all about their plans and how the plans went just horribly wrong and they created the xenomorphs by accident, and then I would say kill her off so nobody ever knows what she found.
Would that make these movies completely pointless? YES! They are already completely pointless. The point of the film was to build the scenario that brought the Nostromo to the planet in the first place. But a lot of the scares we get in Alien was that they were on a planet that they knew nothing about! The audience knew nothing about what was down there! That is what helped suck you in to the movie! We know now! What is down there? Oh it's xenomorphic aliens that lay eggs in your chest and when they hatch rip right out of you, bleed acid, and are insatiable killing machines.
The 'prequel' shouldn't have happened in the first place. The best thing they can do is cut their losses.
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