In the wake of the mind explosion that was Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," both fans and haters have been curiously posturing about what it could all mean and whether a sequel is likely or even possible.
Though after a solid opening weekend, the fate of a "Prometheus" sequel may now lie in the hands of a Fox executive instead of the creative talent, we spoke with co-writer Damon Lindelof about whether the events and ideas in "Prometheus" leave an opening for a follow-up.
Much of the philosophy in "Prometheus" revolves around the unsatisfying nature of ultimate answers, and the film purposely avoids resolving some of the story's lingering questions. So could a sequel exist without contradicting the ideas of the original? Lindelof told us that "Prometheus" was always intended to be a stand-alone film, but there is the possibility for more story.
"The conversations that we had about the story of 'Prometheus' and how it would end were always predicated on the idea that there would not be a sequel, that a sequel was not a foregone conclusion, and that the movie itself had to have a feeling of being complete," Lindelof said. "That being said, we also wanted the audience to feel that, like, if there were a sequel to 'Prometheus,' it wouldn't be 'Alien.' "
That idea of a separate narrative arc from "Alien" led to the loose end of Shaw flying off to find the Engineers, so that if a sequel were to happen, it would take the audience to unfamiliar territory.
"Something needed to happened at the end of this movie that clearly steered and announced that the direction of the trajectory of this story moving forward was not going to head toward LV-426 and a crashed, derelict ship with a Space Jockey with an exploded chest surrounded by eggs, that Shaw and David were headed in a different direction that was probably not going to result in that," Lindelof said. "Those two things were sort of simultaneous to each other, so you're both saying, 'We want this movie to stand on its own, but we also acknowledge that it needs to end in a way that is very clear that if the story were to progress (if there were a sequel) ' We tried to thread the needle between the two ideas."
If the concept of no sequel to "Prometheus" upsets you because of the remaining mysteries, Lindelof suggests you look toward Scott for your answers, because he has them.
"Then, of course, for all this talk of unanswered questions or the characters theorizing but not really getting their theories proved or, more importantly, for getting their makers to answer for the condition of the movie, Ridley and I and Jon [Spaihts] all discussed what we felt those answers were and came to agreement on them, so despite whatever slings and arrows come our way, this is not a case of, 'Well, we didn't know, so we didn't bother trying,'" Lindelof said. "We definitely knew, and Ridley decided that the more interesting movie was one where we didn't explicitly spell that stuff out."
So because Scott designed the movie to be the way that it is, those questions should drive you want more, just like Shaw at the end of the film, but Lindelof promised that the answers you might be searching for could be hidden inside "Prometheus."
"I really believe — and this is not shamed hucksterism — that upon multiple viewings of the movie or just entering into conversation with people who have seen it, there are a lot more answers there than people think there are and room for theories, but the movie needed to end in a way that is Shaw still searching," he said. "She is not satisfied with the answers that she got. I think that's very indicative, hopefully, if Shaw is supposed to be the audience proxy, they're supposed to be feeling the same way that she is at the end of the movie."
For all the "Lost" fans out there, this might all sound like a familiar song and dance, especially coming from Lindelof, and the writer knew he was in for that comparison when he took on Scott's orders.
"To be completely candid, I knew that I'd eat some s--- for that for the rest of my career, if there is no sequel to 'Prometheus,' but did it anyway, and had Ridley asked me to do it the other way, I would have done that too," Lindelof said. "This movie is about realizing his vision. He's only directed three science-fiction films, and now 'Prometheus' is one of them, and if he told me to jump off a bridge, I would.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
'Prometheus': Could There Be A Sequel? Co-writer Damon Lindelof tells MTV News if there were a follow-up, 'it wouldn't be 'Alien.' '
"
In the wake of the mind explosion that was Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," both fans and haters have been curiously posturing about what it could all mean and whether a sequel is likely or even possible.
Though after a solid opening weekend, the fate of a "Prometheus" sequel may now lie in the hands of a Fox executive instead of the creative talent, we spoke with co-writer Damon Lindelof about whether the events and ideas in "Prometheus" leave an opening for a follow-up.
Much of the philosophy in "Prometheus" revolves around the unsatisfying nature of ultimate answers, and the film purposely avoids resolving some of the story's lingering questions. So could a sequel exist without contradicting the ideas of the original? Lindelof told us that "Prometheus" was always intended to be a stand-alone film, but there is the possibility for more story.
"The conversations that we had about the story of 'Prometheus' and how it would end were always predicated on the idea that there would not be a sequel, that a sequel was not a foregone conclusion, and that the movie itself had to have a feeling of being complete," Lindelof said. "That being said, we also wanted the audience to feel that, like, if there were a sequel to 'Prometheus,' it wouldn't be 'Alien.' "
That idea of a separate narrative arc from "Alien" led to the loose end of Shaw flying off to find the Engineers, so that if a sequel were to happen, it would take the audience to unfamiliar territory.
"Something needed to happened at the end of this movie that clearly steered and announced that the direction of the trajectory of this story moving forward was not going to head toward LV-426 and a crashed, derelict ship with a Space Jockey with an exploded chest surrounded by eggs, that Shaw and David were headed in a different direction that was probably not going to result in that," Lindelof said. "Those two things were sort of simultaneous to each other, so you're both saying, 'We want this movie to stand on its own, but we also acknowledge that it needs to end in a way that is very clear that if the story were to progress (if there were a sequel) ' We tried to thread the needle between the two ideas."
If the concept of no sequel to "Prometheus" upsets you because of the remaining mysteries, Lindelof suggests you look toward Scott for your answers, because he has them.
"Then, of course, for all this talk of unanswered questions or the characters theorizing but not really getting their theories proved or, more importantly, for getting their makers to answer for the condition of the movie, Ridley and I and Jon [Spaihts] all discussed what we felt those answers were and came to agreement on them, so despite whatever slings and arrows come our way, this is not a case of, 'Well, we didn't know, so we didn't bother trying,'" Lindelof said. "We definitely knew, and Ridley decided that the more interesting movie was one where we didn't explicitly spell that stuff out."
So because Scott designed the movie to be the way that it is, those questions should drive you want more, just like Shaw at the end of the film, but Lindelof promised that the answers you might be searching for could be hidden inside "Prometheus."
"I really believe — and this is not shamed hucksterism — that upon multiple viewings of the movie or just entering into conversation with people who have seen it, there are a lot more answers there than people think there are and room for theories, but the movie needed to end in a way that is Shaw still searching," he said. "She is not satisfied with the answers that she got. I think that's very indicative, hopefully, if Shaw is supposed to be the audience proxy, they're supposed to be feeling the same way that she is at the end of the movie."
For all the "Lost" fans out there, this might all sound like a familiar song and dance, especially coming from Lindelof, and the writer knew he was in for that comparison when he took on Scott's orders.
"To be completely candid, I knew that I'd eat some s--- for that for the rest of my career, if there is no sequel to 'Prometheus,' but did it anyway, and had Ridley asked me to do it the other way, I would have done that too," Lindelof said. "This movie is about realizing his vision. He's only directed three science-fiction films, and now 'Prometheus' is one of them, and if he told me to jump off a bridge, I would.
In the wake of the mind explosion that was Ridley Scott's "Prometheus," both fans and haters have been curiously posturing about what it could all mean and whether a sequel is likely or even possible.
Though after a solid opening weekend, the fate of a "Prometheus" sequel may now lie in the hands of a Fox executive instead of the creative talent, we spoke with co-writer Damon Lindelof about whether the events and ideas in "Prometheus" leave an opening for a follow-up.
Much of the philosophy in "Prometheus" revolves around the unsatisfying nature of ultimate answers, and the film purposely avoids resolving some of the story's lingering questions. So could a sequel exist without contradicting the ideas of the original? Lindelof told us that "Prometheus" was always intended to be a stand-alone film, but there is the possibility for more story.
"The conversations that we had about the story of 'Prometheus' and how it would end were always predicated on the idea that there would not be a sequel, that a sequel was not a foregone conclusion, and that the movie itself had to have a feeling of being complete," Lindelof said. "That being said, we also wanted the audience to feel that, like, if there were a sequel to 'Prometheus,' it wouldn't be 'Alien.' "
That idea of a separate narrative arc from "Alien" led to the loose end of Shaw flying off to find the Engineers, so that if a sequel were to happen, it would take the audience to unfamiliar territory.
"Something needed to happened at the end of this movie that clearly steered and announced that the direction of the trajectory of this story moving forward was not going to head toward LV-426 and a crashed, derelict ship with a Space Jockey with an exploded chest surrounded by eggs, that Shaw and David were headed in a different direction that was probably not going to result in that," Lindelof said. "Those two things were sort of simultaneous to each other, so you're both saying, 'We want this movie to stand on its own, but we also acknowledge that it needs to end in a way that is very clear that if the story were to progress (if there were a sequel) ' We tried to thread the needle between the two ideas."
If the concept of no sequel to "Prometheus" upsets you because of the remaining mysteries, Lindelof suggests you look toward Scott for your answers, because he has them.
"Then, of course, for all this talk of unanswered questions or the characters theorizing but not really getting their theories proved or, more importantly, for getting their makers to answer for the condition of the movie, Ridley and I and Jon [Spaihts] all discussed what we felt those answers were and came to agreement on them, so despite whatever slings and arrows come our way, this is not a case of, 'Well, we didn't know, so we didn't bother trying,'" Lindelof said. "We definitely knew, and Ridley decided that the more interesting movie was one where we didn't explicitly spell that stuff out."
So because Scott designed the movie to be the way that it is, those questions should drive you want more, just like Shaw at the end of the film, but Lindelof promised that the answers you might be searching for could be hidden inside "Prometheus."
"I really believe — and this is not shamed hucksterism — that upon multiple viewings of the movie or just entering into conversation with people who have seen it, there are a lot more answers there than people think there are and room for theories, but the movie needed to end in a way that is Shaw still searching," he said. "She is not satisfied with the answers that she got. I think that's very indicative, hopefully, if Shaw is supposed to be the audience proxy, they're supposed to be feeling the same way that she is at the end of the movie."
For all the "Lost" fans out there, this might all sound like a familiar song and dance, especially coming from Lindelof, and the writer knew he was in for that comparison when he took on Scott's orders.
"To be completely candid, I knew that I'd eat some s--- for that for the rest of my career, if there is no sequel to 'Prometheus,' but did it anyway, and had Ridley asked me to do it the other way, I would have done that too," Lindelof said. "This movie is about realizing his vision. He's only directed three science-fiction films, and now 'Prometheus' is one of them, and if he told me to jump off a bridge, I would.
Lindsay Lohan (And A Porn Star) To Star In 'The Canyons'?
Lindsay Lohan might soon be making a move to "The Canyons." According to the film's screenwriter, Bret Easton Ellis, she has just nabbed the leading role in the flick, set to shoot this summer.
"James Deen and Lindsay Lohan will star in THE CANYONS," Ellis tweeted about the actors. Deen is best known for his work in adult films. The film will be directed by Paul Schrader. "And I am beyond thrilled that James Deen and Lindsay Lohan will be playing the parts of Christian and Tara in THE CANYONS by BEE."
Filming for "The Canyons" will begin next month. Currently Lohan is shooting the Lifetime Elizabeth Taylor biopic, "Liz & Dick," and is also embroiled in a new spat of troubles tied to an L.A.-area car accident. However, Ellis remained optimistic about the casting when he added, "Could not have dreamed of a better cast. Lindsay nailed it."
A rep for the actress could not confirm that Lohan would be appearing the flick when MTV News reached out for comment.
According to a poster for the film, the tagline is "It's not 'The Hills,' " a reference to the popular MTV reality show that followed the glamorized lives of Lauren Conrad and her pals. This is expected to be a grittier take on young people and their struggles in Hollywood.
Indiewire reports that Deen's Christian is a "trust fund kid, power player and major manipulator, who is a film producer that enjoys filming his own three-way sex sessions." Meanwhile, Lohan's ex-model character, Tara, is his girlfriend who "has sold her pride for the material comforts Christian can provide." Three other roles remain uncast: bartender and wannabe actor Ryan, Ryan's employee and fellow actor Gina, and former actress/yoga instructor Lindsay, who is carrying on an affair with Christian.
"The Canyons" recently got funded through a Kickstarter initiative. The film will get a video-on-demand release sometime in the future.
Adele Tops Billboard Chart Again, Ties Purple Rain Record
Adele is making this look way too easy. In a week when there were no less than six new faces in the Billboard 200 top 10, the 21 singer still managed to climb back into the #1 slot after weeks of hanging around in the #2 and #3 -positions.
In her remarkable 68th week in the top 10, the singer sold 75,000 copies of 21, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, giving her a total north of 9.3 million to date. While the majority of titles in the top 20 had sales loses or negligible gains, Adele's sales were up 30 percent thanks to her prime-time special on NBC.With the exception of one week at #7, and five weeks in the 4-5 zone, Adele has spent more than 60 weeks in the top 3 and her latest triumph ties her with the "Saturday Night Fever" and "Purple Rain" soundtracks for 24 non-consecutive weeks at #1. Her next goal is catching up to Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, Harry Belafonte's Calypso and the "South Pacific" soundtrack, which all spent 31 non-consecutive weeks at #1.
Her triumph came in a squeaker over country singer Alan Jackson, whose Thirty Miles West debuted at #2 on sales of 73,000, which aced out the comeback album from the Beach Boys, That's Why God Made the Radio, which landed at #3 (61,000). Another rock veteran, Neil Young, landed at #4 with Americana, an album of fuzzed-out covers of old-timey songs performed with his longtime cohorts in Crazy Horse that sold 44,000 copies. Rapper Big K.R.I.T.'s long-awaited major-label debut, Live From the Underground, opened at #5 (41,000), while fellow MC Curren$y hit #8 with Stoned Immaculate (36,000) and singer Brandi Carlile just snuck into the top 10 with Bear Creek (#10, 27,000).
The rest of the top 10: One Direction, Up All Night (#6, 40,000), last week's #1, John Mayer's Born And Raised (down 41 percent to #7, 39,000) and Carrie Underwood's Blown Away (#9, 27,000).
Longtime Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh was back in the game with the solo album Analog Man (23,000), the "Rock of Ages" soundtrack slipped in at #15 (18,000) and the second volume of songs from the TV show "Victorious" debuted at #18 (17,000).
Further down the line, rockers Japandroids
made it to the #37 spot thanks to more than 9,000 in sales for Celebration Rock.
Over on the iTunes chart, Justin Bieber protégé Carly Rae Jepsen topped the singles tally with her ubiquitous hit "Call Me Maybe", followed by Maroon 5's "Payphone," Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know," Katy Perry's "Wide Awake" and Justin Bieber's "All Around the World." Pitbull was at #6 with his "Men In Black III" theme song, "Back in Time," just ahead of Rihanna's "Where Have You Been," One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful," Nicki Minaj's "Starships" and Bieber's "Boyfriend."
Mayer managed to hold the top slot on the iTunes album chart, besting K.R.I.T., Adele, One Direction and Fun.'s Some Nights. Carlile was in at #6, followed by Curren$y, country singer and "One Tree Hill" star Jana Kramer's self-titled debut, Jackson and the first effort from folk rocker trio the Lumineers.
Adele's trip to the pole position might be short-lived, as this week's releases include the latest from Usher
, Waka Flocka Flame, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and country singer Josh Turner.
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