Prometheus Based on Story Ideas from Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver talks Prometheus

As originally intended, Prometheus is shaping up to be a proper prequel to 1979’s Alien, offering a backstory on the infamous Space Jockey that is seen in that original film’s first opening moments. It’s no secret that Noomi Rapace is playing a character in the same vein as Sigourney Weaver‘s iconic Ripley. Both characters share the same DNA. They are tough, pro-feminist ass kickers who save the day. The heroines of this universe.

So far, we haven’t heard anything from Sigourney Weaver on the prospects of Noomi Rapace taking over this archetype in the franchise. Early this week, the genre legend, who has also starred in fan favorites like Ghostbusters and Avatar, spoke out on Prometheus, saying that she is anxious to see it, knowing that Ridley Scott is on board as a director. She even claims that the screenplay is based on her idea.

Here is what she had to say.

“Fox and I disagreed on how the franchise should continue. But I’m glad it’s Ridley Scott doing it, and I’ll be as curious as anyone, or maybe more curious, to see it. I think he took my suggestion. Fox wanted to go to earth and I said: ‘That’s so boring. Who wants to see aliens on earth?’ I said ‘go back to the planet’.”

Sigourney Weaver has no hard feelings about being replaced in this age-old franchise, though.

“That’s show-business. I don’t take it personally.”

The actress, who has starred in five sci fi movies to date, her sixth being Avatar 2, went into talking about the pro-feminist aspects of Alien and Prometheus.

“I don’t think the producers were feminists. In the original script, they were all men. I think they thought, ‘let’s change it up and make the survivor a woman because no one will ever think the survivor will be a woman’. I think it was taking the pulse of society at that moment; we were another expression of how our world was changing. Women were agitating to be in the army, to work in warehouses and as truck drivers.”

About working with Ridley Scott on the original, she had this to say.

“We worked very hard together, and I certainly credit him in making Ripley an everyman character, not just a damsel in distress, but a character who is not giving up. James Cameron was also a breath of fresh air. He is a champion of strong women who never thinks in terms of gender characteristics.”

And speaking of James Cameron, this is all that Sigourney Weaver had to offer on Avatar 2.

“I’m excited to go back to Avatar. I know the story that James Cameron wants to tell is so much bigger.”

To read a whole lot more about Sigourney Weaver‘s Sci Fi career: clickHere

Prometheus comes to theaters June 8th, 2012 and stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Logan Marshall-Green, Guy Pearce. The film is directed by Ridley Scott.

Alien was released May 25th, 1979 and stars Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Bolaji Badejo. The film is directed by Ridley Scott.