# The trailer for Prometheus **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132 "2012-03-18T13:14:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/21 "2012-03-20T13:35:06Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The last go-round with reporters had Scott admitting that it takes place within the Alien universe but isn’t a “prequel” per se. Just that it takes place before Alien. Eh, I guess you can make the argument that it’s not a “prequel” because it has none of the same characters, but it’s not just the same universe, it’s the same damn planet! The spacecraft we see (well, one of them) is obviously the derelict space craft the crew of The Nostromo investigated, and we see what is clearly the “control room” or whatever it’s called that the Space Jokey was in, as well as some shots of what could be the Jockey himself/itself. I think they’re just avoiding use of the word prequel because of all the dirty connotations it has thanks to Star Wars. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/22 "2012-03-20T13:39:40Z")
If you want an in-depth review of the trailer, look at [this post](http://www.gavinrothery.com/my-blog/2012/3/19/some-thoughts-on-prometheus.html), where pretty much every frame of it is dissected. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/23 "2012-03-20T13:47:24Z")
Maybe I need to watch the trailer again, but it looks to me like astronauts go explore a creepy planet with the best of intentions and then slimy Giger-inspired aliens eat everyone. How is this not Alien again with better CGI? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/24 "2012-03-20T13:54:48Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I could be wrong, but I thought they were making it pretty clear this is an “Alien” prequel. No – nothing I’ve heard made it clear this was an Alien prequel. That was the speculation (based, I’m sure, on the ssame things I’ve pointed out), but I never heard or read anhythning that confirmed it. **Justin Bailey** ’s post seems to agree, although if it’s not a prequel, why drag in all the Alienspecific imagery? Maybe in this film they’re concerned with the “Space Jockey” race, and not with the predatory xenomorphs at all. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/25 "2012-03-20T14:12:14Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > No – nothing I’ve heard made it clear this was an Alien prequel. That was the speculation (based, I’m sure, on the ssame things I’ve pointed out), but I never heard or read anhythning that confirmed it. The wiki article has some information on it’s [development history](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_(film)#Development). It was originally conceived as an Alien prequel, but is now an unrelated story set in the same universe. I think it’s probably a good thing they have written something new rather than go down the franchise route, but I’m a bit ambivalent towards the “ancient astronauts” idea. It could make for an interesting story, but I find the nutjob associations off-putting. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/26 "2012-03-20T14:44:46Z")
I don’t care if it’s a prequel, a re-imaginging, a re-boot, or even Ridley Scott doing a shot for shot remake. It looks like an awesome sci-fi movie, from someone who knows how to make one! I’m just happy to watch it… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/27 "2012-03-20T15:40:07Z")
> [@Iggins](#): > > I don’t care if it’s a prequel, a re-imaginging, a re-boot, or even Ridley Scott doing a shot for shot remake. It looks like an awesome sci-fi movie, from someone who knows how to make one! I’m just happy to watch it… 🙂 This - but it is clear that the ship shown in the previews is the same type of ship as in Alien - maybe we can now get a kit of it. I’ve already bought my tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/28 "2012-03-20T15:53:50Z")
Visually, it’s a weird mashup of _Firefly_, _Alien_, and _2001_. The ship in the opening sequences looks remarkably like **Serenity** from Firefly, right down to the movable engine nacelles, the sharp angles, the rear bay door and cockpit design. Some of the interior shots have the clean, bright look and design of the spaceships from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Then when the Aliens appear, it’s all HR Giger weirdness again. I wonder if the script is also a mashup of SF tropes. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/29 "2012-04-09T17:49:28Z")
Just saw another trailer for _Prometheus_, at the beginning on _The Hunger Games_. I am less than thrilled. ☹ I still think expect the movie to be action-packed and visually stunning but there was a LOT of emphasis on the face-huggers and the space jockey. I really, really hope the story stands up but now I am filled with doubts. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/30 "2012-04-20T16:09:57Z")
If you haven’t already seen the “Happy Birthday, David” video, [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWmbqH_z7jM) it is. This Michael Fassbender guy might just be something. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/31 "2012-04-20T18:48:49Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > The spacecraft we see (well, one of them) is obviously the derelict space craft the crew of The Nostromo investigated, and we see what is clearly the “control room” or whatever it’s called that the Space Jokey was in, as well as some shots of what could be the Jockey himself/itself. Eh - I think you’re putting too much weight on this point. It could just be a spaceship built by the same people. Consider: The United States of America built five space shuttle orbiters. Could you tell them apart at a glance? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/32 "2012-04-20T18:51:00Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > Eh - I think you’re putting too much weight on this point. It could just be a spaceship built by the same people. Consider: The United States of America built five space shuttle orbiters. Could you tell them apart at a glance? Since they have their name painted on the side? Possibly. 🆒 Not without that clue, though… ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/33 "2012-05-23T13:21:19Z")
That’s what I’m thinking. That it might be the same model spaceship but not the very same ship. This would allow the story to get away from the face-hugger aliens but still be set in the Weyland-Yutani universe. In that case, it would be true that it was not a prequel. But I wonder if that’s so, it could still be connected to the “Aliens” plotline. Imagine if the knowledge learned in this film caused The Company to divert the Nostromo to investigate a certain beacon emanating from an unexplored planet… ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/34 "2012-05-23T14:32:51Z")
I’m excited. Incidentally, Ridley Scott also did a “[Prophets of Science Fiction](http://science.discovery.com/tv/prophets-of-science-fiction/episodes/)” series on the Science Channel this past spring that was pretty good. Whether or not his love of classic SF pioneers will be evident in _Prometheus_ I can’t say, but he’s clearly interested in the art form and not just a dabbler. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/35 "2012-05-23T14:52:27Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t think we really need to know anything about the Space Jockey. Did IQ’s just … drop sharply while I was away? Ma’am, I already _said_ it was not indigenous. It was on a _derelict spacecraft_. We homed in on its signal. ---
**Author:** ![Sodalite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Sodalite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sodalite)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/36 "2012-05-23T15:01:31Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I try to be skeptical of trailers, but this one’s broken through my defenses: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHcHYisZFLU&feature=player\_embedded](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHcHYisZFLU&feature=player_embedded) > > Looks like incredible fun. Anyone else notice the MASSIVE spoiler in this trailer? They show a graphic of the alien ship in an underground hangar then near the end you see that ship crashing I saw a couple of commercials for it this week. I’m not much of a movie buff so I hadn’t seen any of the speculation and I had no idea it was directed by Ridley Scott. My first thought was, “Wow, they’re remaking Alien?” because the images were so similar. The cryo-sleep beds, the ridgey walls, the hall full of eggs? Then I remembered the beacon that brought the Nostromo to the planet in the first place. I thought it had to be a prequel where nobody survives and I checked this thread to see if I was right. It’ll be interesting to see what it really turns out to be. I’ll wait for you guys to go see it first and tell me if it’s worth my time and money. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/37 "2012-05-23T15:33:26Z")
I’m dissapointed by the brief glimpse of the space jockey from Alien, he appears to be a standard humanoid in a space suit with an elephantine head(he looks awfully similar to an alien Lucas added into the CGI’d edition of A New Hope in the cantina). Thats not the space jockey we saw in Alien, that guy was literally growing out of the chair :eek: with a “feeding tube”, how spooky was that? Imagining a species where a pilot if grown into the ship?!?:eek: But now he is just an elephant man, and I’m guessing the way he gets bonded to the chair is the tiny worms and tentacle monsters seen earlier in the movie. How boring. ---
**Author:** ![Sodalite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Sodalite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sodalite)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/38 "2012-05-23T17:46:10Z")
> [@grude](#): > > \>snip\< Imagining a species where a pilot if grown into the ship?!?:eek: \>snip\< We saw that on Farscape. 😉 From the Wiki: > [@](#): > > A multi-limbed creature who acts as the ship’s pilot. He is biologically connected to Moya’s nervous system and also serves as her voice to the crew. Pilot is portrayed by an animatronic puppet. > > Moya’s pilot is only known by his species’ name, which also doubles as a description of his role on the ship. His real name, if he has one, is unknown. Pilots bond with biomechanical Leviathan spacecraft and become their navigator, companion, and liaison to passengers. Once bonded, Pilots can survive only a brief period of time of separation from their Leviathans, and only when travelling in something made of a Leviathan’s components (as in a transport pod). That’s why the pilot couldn’t escape from the people tearing off his limbs for food in the episode “Eat Me”. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/39 "2012-05-23T17:54:03Z")
The arrangement of the “urns” in front of the giant head bear a resemblance to the facehugger eggs in Alien, but that may just be Scott echoing a visual motif. They do seem to contain some kind of lifeform or bio-technology. The hints of the monstrous forms look more soft and tentacle-like than the Geiger-designed insects from Alien, as well. It makes me wonder if those aliens will even be in this flick or if there’s a completely different menace. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132/40 "2012-05-23T18:44:37Z")
So is this a prequel or not? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trailer-for-prometheus/616132.md?page=3)