14 DAY TRIAL // Fans of the original “Alien” films can breathe easy: no budget restriction will be the end of the 2 prequels that Ridley Scott is preparing, because 20th Century Fox has already approved a first draft Damon Lindelof.
A short while ago, Scott said that he planned to bring “Alien” back on the silver screen – and make of it what the original movies were, thus helping fans wash away the bad taste some were left with after “Alien vs. Predator.”
He also said it would be the darkest, bigger and most impressive “Alien” (or even horror) movie to date – in jaw-dropping 3D to boot.
Shortly after that, another report came out, saying that 20th Century Fox, the movie studio behind the two prequels, was determined to kill the projects if the budget was over the top, which is precisely where things were going for Scott.
Luckily, NY Mag’s Vulture is now reporting that a first draft of the script has already been approved by Fox, which means it’s well in the limits of the budget Fox bosses estimated and will be greenlit.
“Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof turned in his new draft of the screenplay for Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel on Saturday, and 20th Century Fox execs are very pleased with it indeed!” Vulture reports.
Details of the plot are kept well under wraps, with all those participating at the meeting being made to sign NDAs even before they set foot in.
“One reason Fox execs are so thrilled with Lindelof’s Alien draft is that, not only is it creatively engaging, but it adds no expensive ‘set pieces’ – production-speak for elaborate, effects-heavy action sequences that add millions to the cost of a film – to the movie,” the e-zine adds.
Though Fox was also pulling for a compelling story that would make the “Alien” prequels a certified hit with audiences, it was also bent on getting it made with as little money as possible.
“One insider familiar with the situation puts Scott’s suggested budget at between $150 million and $160 million; Fox obviously, would like that number to shrink,” Vulture says of the numbers being thrown around.
That’s $150-160 million for a single film – not for both prequels, which explains why Fox aims for a smaller budget.
Still, greenlighting the “Alien” reboot could be the best thing to happen to Fox, Vulture believes.
“Still, this is some good news for Fox, which has almost nothing resembling a blockbuster in the hopper for the summer of 2012, and could certainly stand to reinvigorate a wildly popular multi-part sci-fi franchise,” the publication says.