In this day and age, it has become increasingly difficult to keep the details of movies under wraps. There are few filmmakers who can keep the secrets and surprises of a blockbuster tentpole under lock and key, and even, their best intentions can be foiled. Christopher Nolan saw key details of "Inception" hit the web almost a year before the movie came out, and this past summer a detailed synopsis hit the net regarding Ridley Scott's "Prometheus." Fox were quick to pour cold water on the stories that surfaced, stating they were "way off," but it appears that the Greek myth is more than just a coincidental title.
In the synopsis that circled, the story centered on a crew traveling to the Zeta Riticuli star system to meet their makers after alien artifacts are discovered in Africa in 2058 that reveal Earth was terraformed to provide a home for humans. However, a crew member steals the “bio-source code” to Terraforming, a technology central to the origin of all Gods’ power, kicking off a chain of events pitting the humans against their alien creators. And even though the studio has said these details are not accurate, catching up with the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog, Scott's hints about the movie do concern theft of a valuable tool.
He tells the blog that the film is a metaphor about a “higher being” who challenges the gods, and like the Greek myth, the gods don't want to give him the metaphorical fire. “Fire is our first form of technology,” Scott said, and as a result of taking the fire (or bio-source code perhaps), punishment comes “in perpetuity in a horrible fashion.” Whether or not that leaked synopsis was on the money or not we'll have to wait and see, but the central conceit of theft of a crucial form of technology seems to be the driving force behind the story.
In other details, Scott prefers to keep mum but he does confirm that Sigourney Weaver will not be making a cameo appearance (we weren't sure how that would've worked anyway) however, he does tease about just how "Prometheus" will tie into "Alien" — and it won't happen until the final moments of the movie. He says that the last eight minutes of "Prometheus" will turn into “a pretty good DNA of the ‘Alien’ one.”
There has been much chatter throughout the year about how closely (or not) "Prometheus" will hew to the "Alien" world we know and love. “Out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place,” Scott said earlier this year. “The keen fan will recognize strands of Alien’s DNA, so to speak.” So it seems unlike the slavish "The Thing" prequel, Scott's film will very much stand on its own, while providing an organic connection that the sci-fi movie that launched his career.
Still lots to uncover and discover, with a teaser trailer supposed to arrive sometime this fall (perhaps with all these sudden interviews, it's just around the corner?). "Prometheus" will orbit your multiplex next summer on June 8, 2012.
Cursed I call all who have only one choice: to become evil beasts or evil tamers of beasts; among such men I would not build my home.
PROMETHEUS UNBOUND
Zeus felt bad. He wasn't a mean-spirited god, after all, and deep down he admired Prometheus for sticking to his ideals. So he offered a slim glimmer of hope to our hero: Zeus told the Titan that he could go free if two conditions were met:
1) An Immortal would have to give up his life for Prometheus
2) A mortal would have to slay the liver-eating eagle
Small consolation, thought Prometheus…What Immortal would ever give up his life for a Titan, he mused, and besides, there was no mortal brave and strong enough to kill the evil beast that feasted on his liver. Unrepentant for his actions, and fully aware that he had done the right thing in stealing fire from Olympus and giving it to Man, Prometheus was resigned to eternal life on the rocks, so to speak.
Prometheus Bound
By Christian Schussele, 1824-1879
But wait! Our story has a happy ending. You see, the Centaur (half man, half horse) named Chiron, a wise and Immortal mentor of many Greek heroes, had been accidentally shot and wounded by one of Heracles' (Hercules) poisoned arrows. The arrows were deadly, having being dipped in the blood of the dying Hydra. But being an Immortal, the gentle Centaur could not die, but lived in horrid pain from the lethal poison.
Hearing of the plight of courageous Prometheus, Chiron volunteered to die in his stead so that his unbearable pain would cease, at the same time conferring his immortality upon the chained Titan. It was a mutually beneficial move and fulfilled the first part of Zeus' terms. Now, where could be found a mortal hero brave enough to challenge the ferocious eagle?
Have no fear, Heracles is here! Passing by Mount Caucasus one day the world's greatest hero, mighty Heracles, saw Prometheus bound to the rock, with the frightful eagle merrily munching on his liver. This would not do! Heracles was famous for always taking the side of the just, the powerless and the overwhelmed.
Armed with his bow and arrows, gifts from the gods, mighty Heracles took aim and let fly a missile at the beast. Bingo! One shot was all it took and the Titan's tormentor became buzzard feed itself, killed instantly by the poisoned arrow…
I think the sudden interviews spur from the fact that his special, 'Prophets of Science Fiction' is premiering on the Science Channel, but one can hope that a teaser isn't far off either!