2/28/2012
Guy Pearce's role in 'Prometheus' reveals a link to 'Alien'
While a good deal of Prometheus remains shrouded in mystery, it's been Ridley Scott himself who has been letting details slip through the cracks. Every time he opens his mouth, we learn a little bit more than he probably intended. Revealing images of the Space Jockey suits and the Ampule Room haven't helped, either.
The biggest question still remains exactly how Prometheus will be tied in to Scott's Alien franchise. The director himself has said the connection will be marginal at best, while some of the actors have said the total opposite. While discussing the film with a Hungarian news outlet(via Alien Prequel News), Scott revealed the role of Guy Pearce's character, which has definite ties to the Alien universe. This might be considered a spoiler to some folks, so the quote won't appear until after the break....
Scott: “When the first ‘Alien’ movie and ‘Blade Runner’ were made, I thought that in the near future the world will be owned by large companies. This is why we have the Tyrell Corporation in ‘Blade Runner’, and Weyland-Yutani in ‘Alien’. They sent the Nostromo spaceship.
The Prometheus is owned by an entrepreneur called Peter Weyland, and is played by Guy Pearce. That’s the connection between the two films, and nothing more. Prometheus is a new film, a new world, and is full of new ideas. And of course new monsters as well.“
The more we learn about Prometheus, the more I'm thinking it's going to have a lot to do with the other Alien films. In Scott's mind it may be an altogether new story with only minor strands of continuity between them, but stuff like this, the Space Jockeys, and some of the thematic elements say otherwise. It sounds like Pearce's role will be small but important, as the actor himself has said it's only a bit part. When it comes to playing corporate schills like Paul Reiser's character in Aliens, it appears Charlize Theron will be picking that up as Meredith Vickers.
Idris Elba, Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Kate Dickie, Rafe Spall, and Patrick Wilson will be joining Theron in the hotly awaited film, set to open on June 8th!