This really looks fantastic, and has the potential to usurp the title of most anticipated blockbuster from Nolan's Rises this summer. There are a couple elements that give me trepidation, though.

First, the cross-cultural message about the extra-terrestrials found in glyphs/symbols, which presumes some sort of holistic theory of origin for human culture. This whole bit has staggering similarities to Dan O'Bannon's first script for Alien, which included a pyramid structure fraught with glyphs and vases, not unlike those scene in the derelict craft in the trailer. AvP gleaned some of these elements from O'Bannon's original ideas, but I expect Scott will not even acknowledge that film. It appears these "higher" beings have some control over biological growth and the creation of life forms -- and there's a lot potential to intertwine these issues with Alien in an oblique and indirect way. The significance of Prometheus doesn't seem lost on Scott at all.

The set design, cast, etc. looks great, but I hope the film doesn't get clouded by blockbuster aesthetics: rousing Wagnerian soundtracks, too much CGI, etc. It's hard to discern what the film will cater to. Right now, it appears as if it's an Alien/Aliens hybrid with 21st century techniques; and that has great potential -- to be excellent or very disappointing.

Beaks: What's exciting about Prometheus to me is that it feels, on one level, like you're using the bait of Alien to bring people into a smart science-fiction film they might otherwise avoid if they didn't suspect it was connected to a popular franchise.

Sir Ridley Scott: That's a good way of putting it.

Lindelof: It's feels a little more manipulative than we would put it probably, but it's not the most unfair characterization.

Scott: The very loose target was that nineteen months ago. Then what happened was you get an idea, which is the starting spec, and the evolution occurs. It just moved further and further away from that original thought that you specified. It has nothing to do with that now. It begs much larger, more interesting questions.

Being a sucker for consistency I'd only accept that state of affairs if Fincher were allowed to make a follow up film which immediately nullified Cameron's prequel-sequel!

The real question is, how is this all going to tie in with the Predator universe 25 years from now?

UPDATE: Insiders at the studio tell me that James Cameron might have made a slightly humorous off handed comment about a Prometheus sequel on the red carpet, but it’s not true he’s planning a Prometheus sequel; this falls into the April Fool’s category as I surmised in the original post. He’s too busy with Avatar sequels to consider anything else. Some Deadline commenters said the entire Guardian piece was based on a hoax story. What fun.

So no Prometheuses, huh?

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