The Hollywood Reporter has it that afeature-length expansion of the recent sci-fi short R’Ha is being developed by producers Rick McCallum (the Star Wars prequels) and Steve Tzirlin (Star Wars: The Clone Wars). The screenplay will be provided by Life on Mars creator Matthew Graham.
The feature film will follow an alien species, the R'Ha, and their quest to defend their race from an invading force. In its original six-minute form (below), R'Hacalls to mind Ancient Astronaut theory – its alien protagonist bearing more than a passing resemblance to depictions of the Egyptian sun god, Ra. The short film took its 22-year-old director Kaleb Lechowski seven months to create. Lechowski will also direct the feature adaptation.
Rumbled: Kirk and McCoy flee alien tribespeople in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Cinemagoers who have seen the new Star Trek movie, Into Darkness, can no doubt recall its colourful opening sequence in vivid detail. No sooner are our bums on seats than do we find ourselves thrust into the brilliant crimson forests of an alien world, watching breathlessly as Captain James T. Kirk and Doctor Leonard McCoy flee a primitive humanoid tribe.
The Starfleet officers are in disguise so as to prevent the tribespeople from seeing their human (i.e. alien) faces and shattering their embryonic philosophical and religious paradigm. Kirk and McCoy are, as any Trekkie will appreciate, seeking to uphold their prime directive: to avoid at all costs any overt interference with the internal development of an alien civilization – especially one that is “barely out of the stone age” and which views its own culture as the center of the universe.
Alien culture shock: Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
This idea of non-interference between alien cultures is one that is frequently discussed in the UFO and scientific communities. Many scientists consider it entirely plausible that any advanced extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy would likely seek to avoid drawing the attention of inhabitants of more primitive worlds for fear of sparking religious, economic and political chaos, or even civilizational collapse. And this, say many in the UFO community, is why ET has not yet landed on the White House lawn.
Over the years, numerous alleged contactees have claimed that benevolent space folk have actually saved humanity from destruction on several occasions throughout history by quietly preventing potentially catastrophic natural disasters. Certainly there have been a great many instances when UFOs have been sighted over areas of geophysical significance – particularly active volcanoes.
It is fitting, then, that Star Trek Into Darkness explores these UFOlogical ideas in its opening scenes. The reason Kirk and McCoy (and also Commander Spock) are on the alien planet in the first place is to attempt to covertly prevent the eruption of a super volcano that would wipe-out the fledgling civilization. The starship Enterprise is hidden from the aliens’ view beneath hundreds of feet of water off the coastline as Kirk and McCoy attempt to blend in with the natives.
Things don’t go according to plan, however, as not only are the two astronauts rumbled, but their starship is witnessed by the awe-struck tribespeople in all its splendour rising majestically from the ocean. We know in that moment that their civilizational path has been dramatically altered as, soon after, they begin drawing and worshipping a crude pictogram of the Enterprise. Ancient Astronaut theory, anyone?
As if these UFOlogical allusions weren’t sufficient, the fictional alien planet of our discussion is actually called ‘Nibiru.’ As anyone familiar with the work of Zecharia Sitchin will know, Nibiru is a theoretical planet that passes by Earth every 3,600 years, allowing its inhabitants – the Annunaki – to interact with humanity. According to Sitchin, these beings were the first gods worshipped by Man.
These filmic nods to UFOlogy should come as little surprise when we consider that the screenwriters for Star Trek Into Darkness are Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, and Damon Lindelof. Between them, these men have written and/or produced the likes of Transformers, Cowboys and Aliens, and Prometheus– all of which owe a heavy debt to UFO literature. Indeed, Orci, for one, has made no secret of his personal interest in the UFO subject. In July, 2011, the screenwriter was asked by The Wrap if he believed in aliens. He replied in the affirmative and added: “I think the evidence clearly indicates that the government's lying about what the hell’s going on.”
It’s unclear at this stage whether or not these same writers will be onboard for the next instalment of the Star Trek franchise, but, if they are, it’s a fair bet that their fascination with UFO lore will continue to serve as inspiration in their exploration of the Star Trek universe.
Embedded below is a detailed write-up of my ongoing research into the historical corporate, political and religious connections of the film studio Sunn Classic Pictures -- the early output of which reflected a strong interest in Biblical figures and the idea of extraterrestrial visitation.
In the context of UFOs, the studio is perhaps best known for its 1980 conspiracy movie, Hangar 18...
In Ridley Scott’s classic 1979 movie Alien, after the crew of the Nostromo has awakened from their hyper-sleep, the ship’s navigator, Lambert (veronica Cartwright), states that they are “just short of Zeta II Reticuli.”
It’s a UFOlogical reference so fleeting that few in the UFO community seem to have noticed it – or, if they have, it’s rarely been discussed.
Zeta Reticuli, as any self-respecting UFO buff knows, is a binary star system in the constellation of Reticulum located approximately 39 light-years from Earth. The UFO buff knows this because Zeta Reticuli is also thought by many to be the home system of the so-called “Grey” aliens – an idea that has its roots in the 1961 Hill abduction incidentin which Betty and Barney Hill were allegedly taken aboard an extraterrestrial spacecraft in rural New Hampshire and subjected to medical tests. It was the first UFO abduction account to gain widespread media attention.
When the Hills underwent regression hypnosis a couple of years after their abduction experience, Betty recalled being shown a star map by the ETs, which she later sketched from memory at the urging of her psychiatrist. That star map was later interpreted by amateur astronomer Marjorie Fish as a depiction of the Zeta Reticuli star system and quickly entered UFO lore. Zeta Reticuli would also be cited in later years as being home to the Greys in connection with Project Serpoand by Area 51 “whistleblower,” Bob Lazar.
Above: The Betty Hill star map
Last year, during the marketing campaign for his Alien prequel Prometheus, Ridley Scott made explicit reference to Zeta(2) Reticuli. In a promotional featurette, the director said: “The planet where they [the crew of the Prometheus] go is called Zeta(2) Reticuli, and what they find there is an establishment that is not what they expected it to be.” Scott added, “This story kind of walks around the truth of what there may be out there... It presents some big questions.”
The implication of Scott’s statement was that the UFOlogical significance of Zeta(2) Reticuli would receive greater emphasis in the Prometheus narrative (the film’s plot is, after all, heavily indebted to Ancient Astronaut theory).
However, when Prometheusfinally hit cinemas, it contained no spoken reference whatsoever to Zeta(2) Reticuli. This was something of a head-scratcher (as, indeed, was the entire movie). Why bother drawing attention to the name of your characters’ destination during the promotion of your movie, only to include no obvious reference to it in the movie itself?
We may never know the answer to this question (I doubt even Ridley Scott knows), but take a look at the composite image below, which shows the Betty Hill star map overlaid against a still from Prometheus in which the aliens’ star system is depicted in ancient cave art...
The above image proves two things:
1.That Prometheusdid go to Zeta(2) Reticuli after all and drew its influence in this regard directly from imagery associated with the Hill abduction case.
2.That I have entirely too much time on my hands today.
In theatres April 12, 2013, Oblivion stars Tom Cruise as Commander Jack Harper, one of the last remaining men on an uninhabited Earth. He repairs the drones which patrol the skies and protect the planet from warring aliens.
The first trailer is now online. Looks pretty epic...
Also check out the official poster (above) and concept art below.
Oblivion is written by William Monahan (The Departed) and directed by Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy).
All you need is Cruise (and military support)
On the subject of Tom Cruise and aliens, the couch-pummeling star was pictured recently shooting his other upcoming ET invasion epic, All You Need Is Kill (plot details here), which is scheduled for a March, 2014 release. These pics were snapped in London last month and show Cruise in military uniform stepping out of an RAF helicopter in the center of London’s iconic Trafalgar Square, which had been sealed off for filming. The military hardware on show in these pictures is a clear sign that the movie has received production assistance from the British Royal Air Force (RAF). There is no indication at this point that the US Department of Defense (DoD) has had any involvement in the production. More pics here.
Indiana Jones and the Lawsuit of the Crystal Skull
"Lawyers... why'd it have to be lawyers."
Lucasfilm, Disney and Paramount Pictures are being targeted by a lawsuit relating to a “stolen” Crystal Skull. The Lawsuit was filed last week on behalf of Dr. Jaime Awe, director of the Institute of Archeology of Belize. According to The Hollywood Reporter:
“This real-life Indiana Jones is suing on behalf of the nation of Belize over the Crystal Skull artifact, popularized in the 2008 Steven Spielberg film Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Awe is demanding the return of the Crystal Skull from a treasure-hunting family that allegedly stole it 88 years ago from Belize. And if that's not enough, the lawsuit targets Lucasfilm, its new owner the Walt Disney Co. and Crystal Skull distributor Paramount Pictures for allegedly using a replica "likeness" of the Crystal Skull. Among the damages claimed are the "illegal profits" of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The movie grossed about $786 million worldwide.” More here.
Disney heads to ‘Terra Incognita’
Walt Disney Pictures has cooked up yet another original sci-fi (and potentially alien-themed) project called Terra Incognita. Variety reports that Guardians of the Galaxy's Nicole Perlman will pen the screenplay.
The premise for Terra Incognitahas yet to be disclosed by Disney, but the title references a Latin term for "unknown land" that is most commonly associated with ancient cartography.
Terra Incognita joins Disney’s sci-fi production line-up along with the (allegedly) alien-themed 1952 and an untitled space adventure from screenwriter Max Landis.
New ‘X-Files’ movie and TV reboot?
Former X-Filesproducer Frank Spotnitz told Den of Geek recently that he would love to make a third X-Files film with the existing cast to bring the series to a close.
Apparently Spotnitz and X-Files creator Chris Carter have been discussing the idea and, although not yet at the scripting stage, the movie would likely be “the climax of the alien colonization story that began the series."
Spotnitz was also asked whether he thought The X-Filescould return to TV the way Star Trek did. He told DoG:
"I wouldn't be surprised at all. I mean, I don't think I would have anything to do with it but you know, for better or for worse, these things are titles of big corporations, like Star Trek belongs to Paramount and The X-Files belongs to Twentieth Century Fox and it's a huge asset in their libraries so I can't imagine they would let it sit languishing forever.
Anything could happen. I just hope that if they do it, they do it well, that's my only request."
'Seasons'
First-time director Tim Miller has been chosen by Sony to helm an adaptation of Joe Haldeman's short sci-fi story, Seasons. The tale, which features in the author's anthology "Dealing in Futures," is about an anthropological study of a sexless – and supposedly placid – alien race. But when the seasons change on the aliens’ home world, so too do the aliens’ personalities. Needless to say, things go horribly wrong for the anthropologists.
Currently in its early stages of development, Seasons will be drafted by Sebastian Gutierrez and produced by Michael De Luca with Alissa Phillips executive producing.
The many questions that were spat at Prometheus by frustrated cinemagoers following the movie's release this summer will soon be answered... this according to the official trailer for the Prometheus Blu-ray (due out Oct. 9)...
A new beginning, a new ending, and extra scenes in-between... could this mean we're finally getting the movie we were originally hoping for?
Here's the rest of what to expect:
PROMETHEUS 4-Disc Collector's Edition Blu-ray Special Features Disc 1 ● Theatrical Cut ● Commentary by Director/Producer Ridley Scott ● Commentary by Writer Jon Spaihts and Writer/Executive Producer Damon Lindelof ● The Peter Weyland Files ● Deleted and Alternate Scenes that include an Alternate Opening / Ending ● Prometheus - Weyland Corp Archive Second Screen App Disc 2 ● The Furious Gods: Making Prometheus ● Enhancement Pods ● Weyland Corp Archive ● Pre-Vis ● Screen Tests Disc 3 ● 3D Theatrical Cut of Movie Disc 4 ● DVD / Digital Copy
PROMETHEUS 2-Disc Blu-ray Special Features Disc 1 ● Theatrical Cut ● Commentary by Director/Producer Ridley Scott ● Commentary by Writer Jon Spaihts and Writer/Executive Producer Damon Lindelof ● The Peter Weyland Files ● Deleted and Alternate Scenes that include an Alternate Opening / Ending ● Prometheus - Weyland Corp Archive Second Screen App Disc 2 ● DVD / Digital Copy
The Vatican's official newspaper L'OsservatoreRomano has criticized Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, taking issue with its premise about the origins of mankind and saying that the Ancient Astronaut-themed blockbuster “mishandles the delicate questions raised by ... the battle eternal between good and evil in yet another attempt to steal the secret of immortality...The journey of Prometheus should instead symbolize the search for the supernatural."
Thor 2 to explore all nine realms?
According to a report from the Russian Cinema Expo, Thor: The Dark World “promises to cover not just the Earth and Asgard, but the entire Nine Realms. The studio [Marvel] hopes that Game of Thronesdirector Alan Taylor has the experience to build upon the fantasy of the series.”
Disney’s alien sitcom is ‘Galaxy Quest’ + ‘The Simpsons’
Disney’s new family sci-fi comedy sitcom The Neighbors premiers tonight on ABC. The show is about “a normal family that moves next door to a bunch of aliens from the planet Zabvron” and will explore “the dynamic of a human family... through the eyes of the aliens and how strange we all are.”
20th Century Fox has confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the studio is “actively pushing ahead” with a follow-up to Prometheus.
Ridley Scott’s R-rated ancient astronaut-themed Alien prequel grossed a very respectable $303 million this summer and the director is now keen to further explore the Prometheus universe.
Although original stars Michael Fassbenderand Noomi Rapacehave already signed up for Scott’s sequel, Fox is currently in talks with new writers to replace Damon Lindelof, who“might not be available” -- perhaps no bad thing as Prometheus’ plot-hole-filled screenplay was arguably the film’s weakest element.
“Ridley is incredibly excited about the movie,” says Fox president of production Emma Watts, “but we have to get it right. We can't rush it.”
What extraterrestrial wonders -- and terrors -- await the remaining crew of the Prometheus will be revealed in 2014 or 2015.
The crew of Prometheus explore the alien world of Zeta(2) Reticuli. Image credit: Entertainment Weekly
Just as you thought the Ancient-Astronaut-inspiredPrometheus couldn’t get any more ‘UFOey,’ a new featurette for the movie reveals that the alien planet to which the human characters travel to meet their makers is none other than Zeta(2) Reticuli.
In the featurette, director Ridley Scott says: "The planet where they go is called Zeta(2) Reticuli, and what they find there is an establishment that is not what they expected it to be,” adding, "this story kind of walks around the truth of what there may be out there... It presents some big questions."
Zeta Reticuli, as any self-respecting UFO buff knows, is a binary star system in the constellation of Reticulum located approximately 39 light-years from Earth. The UFO buff knows this because Zeta Reticuli is also thought by many to be the home system of the so-called “Grey” aliens – an idea that has its roots in the 1961 Hill abduction incidentin which Betty and Barney Hill were allegedly taken aboard an extraterrestrial spacecraft in rural New Hampshire and subjected to medical tests. It was the first UFO abduction account to gain widespread media attention and led to several books (the most recent of which is Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden's Captured!), a TV movie and innumerable film and TV references.
When the Hills underwent regression hypnosis a couple of years after their abduction experience, Betty recalled being shown a star map by the ETs, which she later sketched from memory at the urging of her psychiatrist. That star map was later interpreted as a depiction of the Zeta Reticuli star system and quickly entered UFO lore. Zeta Reticuli would also be cited in later years as being home to the Greys in connection with Project Serpoand by Area 51 “whistleblower,” Bob Lazar.
Betty Hill’s sketch of the star map. She says she was told that the heavy lines on the map marked regular trade routes, while the broken lines showed various space expeditions.
With the release of Prometheus this June, Zeta Reticuli is set to break out of the often unfathomable worlds of science and UFOlogy and burst like an alien from a blood-soaked chest into global pop-culture.
New Prometheus featurette focuses on Ridley Scott...
Also, diehard fans of the Alien franchise might be pleased to know that, contrary to Internet rumours and even hints from Ridley Scott himself, Prometheus may yet be granted an 'R' rating from the MPAA. In a recent interview with MTV, Fox CEO Tom Rothman said "Not one frame of Prometheus will be cut... if that means it’s an R rating, so be it." Last month, Ridley Scott hinted to Empire magazine that in order for his movie to generate maximum profit it would possibly have to go out as a PG-13.
We won't know the age rating for Prometheus for sure until we see it attached to future trailers for the movie or splashed across official posters. For what it's worth, though, Prometheus posters here in the UK are currently being displayed with a "TBC" rating of '15' - the UK equivalent of 'R' (which also covers the UK '18' rating).
Ridley Scott’s hotly-anticipated Alienprequel Prometheus has just gone viral with a video promotion featuring Guy Pearce in the role of slightly crazed entrepreneur Peter Weyland.
The video (below) shows Weyland speaking at the 2023 TED Conference (an annual convention dedicated to human innovation currently being staged in Long Beach, California). A separate viral website for Weyland Industries has also launched.
Peter Weyland's official bio reads as follows:
Sir Peter Weyland was born in Mumbai, India at the turn of the Millennium. The progeny of two brilliant parents; His mother, an Oxford Educated Professor of Comparative Mythology, his father, a self-taught software Engineer, it was clear from an early age that Sir Peter's capabilities would only be eclipsed by his ambition to realize them. By the age of fourteen, he had already registered a dozen patents in a wide range of fields from biotech to robotics, but it would be his dynamic break-throughs in generating synthetic atmosphere above the polar ice cap that gained him worldwide recognition and spawned an empire.
In less than a decade, Weyland Corporation became a worldwide leader in emerging technologies and launched the first privatized industrial mission to leave the planet Earth. “There are other worlds than this one,” Sir Peter boldly declared, “And if there is no air to breathe, we will simply have to make it.” Peter Weyland has been a magnet for controversy since he announced his intent to build the first convincingly humanoid robotic system by the end of the decade.
Whether challenging the ethical boundaries of medicine with nanotechnology or going toe to toe with the Vatican itself on the issue of gene-therapy sterilization, Sir Peter prides himself on his motto, “If we can, we must.” After a three year media blackout, Weyland has finally emerged to reveal where he’s heading next. Wherever that may be, we will most certainly want to follow.
Director Ridley Scott has revealed more about Guy Pearce's role in Prometheus, the upcoming Ancient-Astronaut-inspired prequel to Scott’s own sci-fi classic, Alien.
"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. Prometheusis a new film, a new world, and is full of new ideas. And of course new monsters as well."*
But Scott is a big fat liar – his pants assuredly on fire – because the character of Peter Weyland is most certainly not the only connection between Alien and Prometheus, as was revealed recently by a tantalising image from the upcoming movie published in The Los Angeles Times.
Prometheus hits cinemas June 8, 2012. View the trailer here...
