Alien Prequel 'Stalled'

[deezelboy]

From Sky Movies:

Ridley Scott's proposed prequel to his 1979 horror hit Alien has stalled before production could even begin.

The director is at odds with the studio behind the project, 20th Century Fox, over budgetary and creative differences, according to sources close to the production.

It would seem Scott wants a budget of around $250m to make it a sci-fi spectacular, and is also pushing for an 18-rated level of violence and horror. Fox, however, don't plan on investing anywhere near that sum, and are keen to get a 15 rating to maximise the audience appeal.


http://movies.sky.com/alien-prequel-stalls-as-scott-fights-fox

[Sebastian]

Jesus. 250 mil is way too much, even for an Alien movie. Goddamn script idea I have in my head wouldn't have to take more than $50 million to do.

[RaNdAlL]

Jesus. 250 mil is way too much, even for an Alien movie. Goddamn script idea I have in my head wouldn't have to take more than $50 million to do.

But just think about what Ridley could give us with such a budget. Damn, I really hope Ridley gets away with it, I read that Alien Harvest script a few days ago and I fell in love with it. If Scott goes forward with the same idea, it would be a great sci-fi to watch.  Go Ridley!

[Hudson]

But just think about what Ridley could give us with such a budget. Damn, I really hope Ridley gets away with it, I read that Alien Harvest script a few days ago and I fell in love with it. If Scott goes forward with the same idea, it would be a great sci-fi to watch.  Go Ridley!

Either Way, it's Ridley Fucking Scott who's requesting this sum. It's not Robert Rodriguez. It's not Paul Anderson. It's not Brett Ratner or Bryan Singer.

This is Ridley Scott; he's an icon. Maybe he didn't win best director, but he's done a helluva lot more films than James Cameron and deserves a large budget more than that jerk ever did. Maybe Fox will give him $100 mil for it. He'll just storyboard the whole thing and they'll double it to $200. 

[Jon Sorensen]

Surprise, surprise. Not.

Never mind, fellas. Watch the original $8 million movie in HD.

And it'll be out in 3D before long!

[Valaquen]

Scott can do wonders with a low budget. Even Aliens' budget was comparitively low. Since Alien3, I think they've been cautious with the dough, and even Avatar didn't cost $250 mill, despite the rumours. And look at LOTR's budget. I wouldn't reckon that Scott would walk from a project he's been talking about doing for years over budget, and such a massive request at that.

[beckmen]

Yeah, I don't understand that budget. Duncan Jones did Moon for 5 million. Neil Blomkamp did District 9 for 30 million. You're telling me Ridley needs 8 times as much as Blomkamp did? No. I side with the studio on this one.

But I side with Ridley on the rating. An 18 rating is pretty much needed. Alien was an 18, the prequel should be as well.

[Dutch90]

What the hell is Ridley planning to do with $ 250 million? Use genetic engineering to create an actual Alien?

[Thedus]

What the hell is Ridley planning to do with $ 250 million? Use genetic engineering to create an actual Alien?

He's trying to compete with Cameron/Avatar.

I can't help but think he's hoping to bury a bad story and horrific concept beneath blockbuster SXF and 3D gimmickry.  This is a bad start to an already bad idea.

..and a PG/15 rating?  yeah... I'm definitely waiting for Netflix to see this one.

[LargeLeader]

I don't exactly understand the need for such a high budget, but come on, they want a 15 rating for an Alien film?

Piss off, Fox.

[Dutch90]

If it's $ 250 million I get why Fox would want a PG-13 rating, an R rated film with that budget is box office suicide. If the budget is lowered we might get an R rating.

[wmmvrrvrrmm]

Terminator 4 had a $200 million budget. I could imagine where Ridley has hinted he wants to go, $250 million could be necessary, especially if he is to live up to Avatar.

But he might be calling for $250million expecting that they'll push it down to a lower figure in the bargaining process that he might know that he really needs.

[beckmen]

Yeah, but productions like TS just waste fucking money. Scott needs to take on a producer who can maximize a budget without throwing money away on stupid shit. Shoot somewhere that is cheap, use a crew of local, young go-getters who will jump at the chance to prove themselves, use an effects house that doesn't charge an arm and a leg (Image Engine, not ILM), don't waste millions on a big name actor who will sleepwalk their way through a role, don't micromanage every department to the extent of having to pay an effects house to digitally change toggle switches on insert shots, etc.

[wmmvrrvrrmm]

Yeah, but productions like TS just waste fucking money. Scott needs to take on a producer who can maximize a budget without throwing money away on stupid shit. Shoot somewhere that is cheap, use a crew of local, young go-getters who will jump at the chance to prove themselves, use an effects house that doesn't charge an arm and a leg (Image Engine, not ILM), don't waste millions on a big name actor who will sleepwalk their way through a role, don't micromanage every department to the extent of having to pay an effects house to digitally change toggle switches on insert shots, etc.

Well, I thought Terminator 4 really needed to use the money properly. I wonder what they could have really done with $200 million. I wonder how much Blade Runner would cost to make today, Ridley might be thinking something that intricate as that, and Ridley's Robin Hood movie seems to have cost $200 million

Now I'm reading that Spiderman 3 cost $258 million and the last years Harry Potter cost $250 million.

[beckmen]

I flat-out do not know what you are trying to say.