From "Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film" at EMP Museum, photo by ComicsBlend.com
If Prometheus has you longing for the original Alien then set course for the EMP Museum in Seattle. Icons of Science Fiction just opened featured some of the most memorable artifacts of favorite films, television shows, novels and comics. You can see part of Michael Biehn’s uniform from Aliens. Ridley Scott is among the titans on Science Fiction Hall of Fame altar.
Black Panther is back in the book that introduced him to the world. In this week’s Fantastic Four #607 by Jonathan Hickman Marvel’s First Family travels to Wakanda when the world runs out of vibranium. Mike Choi created this regal cover showing the former King in his glory.
This week’s comic book return of T’Challa follows the reports that Black Panther is next in line to get the big screen treatment from Marvel Studios. I’ve always pushed for Idris Elba (Heimdall in Thor.) After seeing Elba as the Captain in Prometheus I’m even more convinced. If you’re not then check out Elba in BBC’s Luther. I can see the dynamic between Elba and Robert Downey Jr now in an Avengers sequel. If there’s one bad ass who could silence Tony Stark it’s T’Challa.
Damon Lindelof (Prometheus, Lost) is working on the script for World War Z according to The Hollywood Reporter Heat Vision. The zombie apocalypse film based on the novel by Max Brooks has been delayed 6 months for reshoots. Lindelof is said to be working on the third act according to Dark Horizons. Brad Pitt is the lead in the Paramount film.
My mind is still torn and reeling from Prometheus. Several viral videos heralded Ridley Scott’s return to sci fi and helped set up the prologue for the events of the film. There’s a new viral video. The film’s end credits reveal a website with a new video starring Guy Pearce as Peter Weyland.
Thus Spoke Zarathrusta: A Book for All and None is a novel of philosophy by Friedrich Nietzche. This appears to be Weyland to come on stage for his TED 2023 talk.
Prometheus still of Noomi Rapace courtesy 20th Century Fox
Director Ridley Scott’s return to the science fiction genre is finally in theaters. While on a sneak preview of the new Icons of Science Fiction exhibit at EMP Museum in Seattle I had to ask the curator his thoughts on Prometheus. As excited as I am for the new movie, what does a guy responsible for creating a science fiction exhibition feel about a return to the world of Alien?
“We were talking about Ridley Scott. He’s more than a storyteller. He’s also a designer. He’s such a visual storyteller. So much of the power of Blade Runner is that world and those vehicles. He did designs or he brought really talented people to do amazing designs. The stories are rock solid too. But the films are so visual and I think it’s a rare combination he does really well so there’s got to be another Ridley Scott sometime? I don’t know of any right now or on the horizon. So I think it’s just incredibly fortunate that he’s still working. he’s been working for decades and he’s still creates incredibly good product…I haven’t seen Prometheus yet! Who knows?
I interject: “What are you expectations?”
“I think it will be beautiful certainly. Prequels make me nervous because you kind of know what’s ultimately going to happen. So you lose some suspense but I’m sure within the film he’ll create all kinds of suspense.
Sometimes…the thing about prequels is 20 years later the special effects technology blows aways what we saw before but also blows away some of the charm. Some of that they had to do more with less they had to be more creative with special effects Now it’s like throw a computer at it. Sometimes… again I don’t know in Prometheus some things we’ve seen it could be like well not quite as charming…but I’ll be there. I’ll be there.”
Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction is almost here. Prometheus goes back into the Alien universe. Imagine Scott having a creative hand in the making of another sci-fi icon – the Daleks?
Scott worked in the BBC design department where he would have designed Doctor Who’s arch enemies – if not for a scheduling conflict – according to a new interview with The Independent.
Scott is returning to his other sci-fi classic. The director’s next project is a sequel to Blade Runner but don’t expect Harrison Ford as the lead reprising Rick Deckard but don’t rule out an appearance.”I don’t think it’ll be Harry [starring]. But I’ve got to have him in it somewhere. That’d be amusing.”
For the entire interview here’s the link. I highly recommend – very insightful on Scott’s career and future.
Michael Fassbender in Prometheus courtesy 20th Century Fox
Michael Fassbender is creepy brilliant in the trailers for Prometheus. The actor is revealing the inspirations for this performance as “David” to GQ. He cites David Bowie, Lawrence of Arabia and Ridley Scott suggested he watch The Servant with Dirk Bogarde.
Fassbender reveals his favorite Ridley Scott films including Blade Runner -wouldn’t he make an amazing new version of Roy Batty for a remake? Here’s a link to the video interview. If you haven’t seen Fassbender as David in the faux commercial for the android here it is:
Prometheus is out June 8th
Back to David Bowie…I wonder which of Bowie’s ‘alien’ characters he refers to as his inspiration? Ziggy Stardust? I’m sure it’s Nicholas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell To Earth. This was Bowie’s first film role as an alien who comes to earth to bring back water to his drought stricked planet. The alien creates many inventions and forms a huge financial empire before…well I don’t want to give it away.
Blade Runner The Final Cut movie poster image courtesy Amazon.com
Ridley Scott is returning to the world of Blade Runner but don’t expect another Rick Deckard (played by Harrison Ford) as the lead. After Scott was asked about his long line of films starring strong female leads (Alien, G.I. Jane, Thelma and Louise) by The Daily Beast turned to the Blade Runner sequel.
“Funny enough, I started my first meetings on the Blade Runner sequel last week. We have a very good take on it. And we’ll definitely be featuring a female protagonist.”
As I posted yesterday – Blade Runner writer Hampton Fancher is in talks to work on the sequel.
As for strong women – who could forget Daryl Hannah as Pris and Joanna Cassidy as Zhora. While not as kick ass as Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley in Alien, these actresses were true femme fatales.These beautiful replicants even their feminity and seduction skills as weapons.
