Prometheus is a science-fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and due for release in June 2012. It is loosely intended as an unofficial prequel to the 1979 film Alien. The plot takes the usual Alien / Ridley Scott theme of a group of humans exploring an alien planet – on the spaceship Prometheus – and presumably getting knocked off one by one. Who will survive until the end of the film? Will the human race be wiped out? Which one of them will be the bad guy?

Scott says the film occupies the same universe as Alien, but that the storyline will not overlap or be connected. Watch the trailers below and you’ll see what he means about the same universe – it feels so familiar. The giant ‘Space Jockey’ from the Alien film can also be seen, with Prometheus apparently set to explore the mythology of these giant beings in some depth, rather than simply being an alien blast ‘em up. So while it seems to have the Alien look and feel, don’t just expect it to be more of the same plot-wise.

Release dates

UK: 1st June
USA: 8th June

Main cast

Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw

Probably plays a similar role to ‘Ripley’ from the Alien films, in the trailer you can see her venturing out on foot into the alien spaceship.

She can be seen to struggle along a corridor in one scene and shaking and praying in another.

Michael Fassbender as David

Watch for him heading out on foot with Shaw in the trailer. Listen to him say:
“How far would you go to get your answers? What would you be willing to do?”
Is he asking someone or referring to himself? Perhaps this is a hint that he’s going to go too far and put the crew in danger.

Charlize Theron as Meredith Vickers

Ridley Scott won’t merely let Theron play the eye-candy role that other director’s, like the unimaginative Michael Bay, probably would.Dresses like the ‘boss’ of the spaceship in the preview and seems to be the one in charge on Prometheus.

Idris Elba as Janek

Looks like he is the pilot of Prometheus as he is seen at the controls on two occasions in the preview.

Guy Pearce as Weyland
Apparently he’s only in the film for 5 minutes, playing the familiar role of the big boss who stays on earth and sends everyone to die.

Logan Marshall-Green as Charlie Holloway

Will he play the secret bad guy role and only be found out just as it looks like he’s going to succeed? Or is he the good guy? Will it even be that simple…

Seems to have a problem with his eyes in one scene, does he have an alien inside?