Damon Lindelof is a nerd's nerd. The same man who co-created "Lost" and helped J.J. Abrams send "Star Trek" off into an awesome new direction also geeked out at the chance to help Ridley Scott develop the idea for "Prometheus." But as it turns out, Lindelof is also the man who turned "Prometheus" from being an "Alien" prequel into what it is today.
In a lengthy new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lindelof opened up a lot about why "Prometheus" is the way it is. What we love so much about this movie already is that we're as intrigued by its inception as we are by its plot. Lindelof doesn't give away any big story moments, but he does give an in depth retelling of his first interactions with Scott about the project and sets the record straight on whether "Prometheus" is a prequel to "Alien."
We've detailed our five favorite "Prometheus" teases from the interview, which you can read after the jump.
It Was Damon Lindelof Who Said "Don't Do An 'Alien' Prequel"
"I wrote maybe a four or five paragraph email saying here are all the things I love about it, I think there are some incredible set pieces here, I love the fundamental idea behind the movie, I feel like it's a cool think piece," Lindelof explained. "BUT I think it's relying a bit too heavily on the 'Alien' stuff that we've seen now five or six times in different movies. Chest-bursting and face-hugging and xenomorphs and I just feel that your idea is so strong and the characters can be made so strong that we don't need any of that stuff. We can present iterations of that stuff in different ways."
Prequel, Original Story Or Both?
"I look at ['Prometheus'] more like a story that is running parallel to the original 'Alien,' so that if there was a sequel to this movie, it would not be 'Alien,' it would be 'Prometheus 2.' And then 'Prometheus 2' is parallel to 'Aliens'," Lindelof teased. "If your definition is: this is a series of events that precedes an existing movie, then, yes. This series of events that happens in Prometheus precedes the series of events that occurs in 'Alien.' However, one of the other definitions is that the ending of the prequel leads you right up to the beginning of the preceding movie [and that is not 'Prometheus']."
These Characters Are Searching For Mystery
"[Ridley Scott] was very interested that my brand seemed to be in mystery and ambiguity. And that's what's so cool about the original 'Alien'," Lindelof said. "The idea for this movie was, well, let's have characters who are a little more interested in answering those questions before the s--t hits the fan. They don't just happen upon the haunted house, they're actually looking for it. They just don't realize it's haunted till they get there. We talked a lot about mystery. That was my only hint of why he sought me out."
The Vague Relationship Between "Prometheus" And "Alien" Is For Our Sake
"Ridley thought that it would be cool that in the teaser he'd have the word 'Prometheus' reveal itself exactly the way the title 'Alien' revealed itself in the original trailer for 'Alien.' This is him saying, I'm making this choice for a very specific reason. If you want to continue asking me what this movie's relationship is with 'Alien,' why in God's name do you think I would do that?" Lindelof said. "Everyone wants to know what the relationship is between this movie and 'Alien.' And one could argue that we've set ourselves up for an inevitable disappointment. But look who you're talking to right now. If there is anybody who is known for inevitable disappointment, it's me. I'm Mr. Inevitable Disappointment!"
Ridley Scott Wants To Fix The "Alien" Franchise
"He was aware of what was happening with the 'Alien' franchise. And his silence on those movies, with the exception of 'Aliens', which I think he is a fan of and I know he's also a huge Fincher fan, but post-'Alien 3' -- both 'Resurrection' and the 'Alien vs. Predator' mash-ups, I think Ridley's feeling was, It's time for me to now take the reins and put the ship back on course. I feel a sense of parenthood and I feel like my child needs a stern talking to," Lindelof said. "That's my sense of it, it's not anything that he has said to me."
Does this interview make you more or less excited for "Prometheus"? Tell us in the comments section below, or on Twitter!
