Sci-Fi Storm

So, that apparently confirmed Neill Blomkamp Alien sequel? It may not be so advanced in production as we thought – and it may never happen.

In an interview for French site Allocine (Google Translate in English), original Alien director and more recent franchise prequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant director Ridley Scott said that “There was never a a scenario,” apparently referring to reports of a completed script, but “only an idea that evolved into a pitch of ten pages.” Scott was involved as a producer, but Fox decided not to proceed with it, since Scott was already involved in the prequels.

Blomkamp wanted to insert his movie as a specific sequel to Aliens, the second film of the franchise, somehow nullifying both Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection. And he had star Sigourney Weaver on board as well. But Blomkamp tweeted a reply to a fan asking about the likelyhood of the project moving forward, where he only said one word – “Slim”.

@jamesportella slim

— NΞill Blomkamp (@NeillBlomkamp) January 21, 2017

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney’s safe return. Based on a best-selling novel, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, The Martian features a star studded cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Peña, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.

In theaters November 2015

It has been a few years since we had news on the reported new Blade Runner in development, aside from some denials that Harrison Ford would return as Decker. But today it was announced that Ryan Gosling would star in what is now definitely a sequel to the Ridley Scott classic – and we hear that Harrison Ford will indeed return.

Hampton Fancher, who co-wrote the original, and Michael Green (Green Lantern) have written the screenplay, which will be helmed by Prisoners director Denis Villeneuve. Plot details are being kept under wraps, other than it will take place several decades after the original. Shooting is expected to begin in Summer 2016.

Producer/director Tony Scott, who directed movies such as Top Gun, Beverly Hills Cop II, Crimson Tide and True Romance and is the brother of producer/director Ridley Scott, died yesterday afternoon after an apparent suicide from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, CA.

Tony had apparently been working on a sequel to Top Gun, despite over 25 years having passed since the original.

When news broke early this morning, friends and colleagues took to Twitter to express their feelings. Director Ron Howard was among the first, calling it a “tragic day”. Peter Fonda called him “brilliant” and actor Rob Schneider called him “a great director”, while Stephen Fry said he was “the most charming, modest man.”

I know in some cases trailers are so eagerly anticipated that people go to movies they otherwise wouldn’t attend just to see them…but this is the first time that I’ve seen a studio or producer trying to build up heat for the trailer itself…the trailer for Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, comes out on Thursday on Apple’s iTunes Movie Trailers, but out today is a teaser – for the trailer. Here it is…although not a formal prequel of the Alien franchise, it’s definitely got that Alien vibe…

Earlier today reports abound that Blade Runner is being looked at again for some sort of production – and the person looking is Ridley Scott, who created it. It is unclear what form this would take – prequel, sequel, reboot – or something else. But while I was typing this and got distracted, Deadline just followed up with the news that Scott will direct a followup to the classic 1982 SF movie.