While it’s just a confirmation, the source claims she’ll play an undisclosed “vital role” in the film. Excited yet? Prometheus is released June 8th, 2012.

Although, it seems that Scott is still eager to cast Rapace in the lead role, but the studio is apparently afraid she can’t handle a big-budget film. Their insiders are also claiming the script will once again be re-written as to give the lead character a bigger role. That way the role will be big enough for an A-list actress, even if Theron doesn’t sign on. The new draft is expected to be completed this week, and Theron is expected to make her decision.

Production is looking to begin next Spring for a likely release in 2012.

Giger created the design of the iconic creature in Scott’s Alien and Alien 3 as well as the the Space Jockey, and its ship. This hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it would let fans know that we could possibly see the original design of the Alien, and it will be nice to see what Giger comes up for when we see the Space Jockey in the film. Of course, if this turns out to be true. Last we heard on the film, production was looking to get started in March, and that Fox will be issuing an official announcement soon.

Deadline Hollywood reports that Lindelof is close to a deal with 20th Century Fox to re-write the films. He met with both Scott and the studio about the job, exchanging ideas that conjured up a great take that would make for a great film. The studio of course will decide when Lindelof will have to turn in his work.

Lindelof took the opportunity as Scott’s Alien had a tremendous impact on him. The original draft for the film was written by Jon Spaihts, but Scott liked it so much that he moved from producing to directing. There’s still no word if Ridley Scott will direct the prequels next, and has several other projects he intends to direct. The original idea for the prequels is to reveal the background story of the “Space Jockey”, and how it ended up on LV-426. The films will be shot in 3-D.

Scott was amazed that the back-story of the “Space Jockey” was never explored in any of the sequels. Now he’s got the script written and is about to enter pre-production on the films. There isn’t an exact time when the film will be set, other than it will be “WAY before the first Alien”. This was done to allow enough time to fit in two films in the Alien history.

Scott did much underwater research for the films, and they’ll go deep into the idea of humans leaving Earth and colonizing on other worlds. Scott didn’t mention if we would get to see the origin of the Alien, but I think it’s best if he doesn’t touch on that issue in the prequels. The films will be presented in 3-D.

Ridley Scott:  Alien, yeah. We’re doing that now. We’re on the fourth draft. It’s alright; it’s pretty good…

Scott:  Of course, it’ll be 3D.

Scott: It’ll be two.  It’ll be prequel one and two.  Then Alien 1.

Scott: At the moment I’m just trying to get the first one out.

We were already aware that there was one prequel that was being churned out for general audiences. It’s not much of a surprise that this popular science fiction franchise is getting the remake treatment, considering that it’s the more fashionable thing to do in Hollywood nowadays. The real question now is how they’ll turn out, if Sigourney Weaver will return, and all of those burning questions that fill our mind.

If you want to see some more of Ridley Scott’s recent work, make your way out to theaters this May 14th to see his rendition of Robin Hood. With them doing a prequel to Alien, what would you like to see out of it?

“Ridley’s doing the next Alien in 3D. Ridley told me some of his ideas when we were here in Toronto. He has a very clear understanding of where this should go. They kind of stopped dead one of the greatest horror franchises there’s ever been, and it had legs to go on. So I’m hoping he’ll revive another three. The world certainly wants it, and the fans want it – everybody. “

Back to The Green Lantern news, this is not as much of a decision from DC Comics as it is from Warner Bros Pictures. Not only are they going to convert the superhero to 3D, but the same goes for Zack Snyder’s latest live action feature Sucker Punch, says THR. Sure, we all know about his upcoming animated directed feature Legend of the Guardians, but let’s fill you back in on some more of Sucker Punch.

The story, set in the 1950s, centers on a little girl (Emily Browning) who is trying to hide from the pain caused by her evil stepfather and lobotomy. She ends up in mental institution and while there she starts to imagine alternative reality. She plans to escape from that imaginary world but to do that she needs to steal five objects before she is caught by a vile man.

Sucker Punch comes out on March 25th, 2011 while The Green Lantern is released on June 17th, 2011.

“It’s a brand new box of tricks,” said Sir Ridley. “We know what the road map is, and the screenplay is now being put on paper. The prequel will be a while ago. It’s very difficult to put a year on Alien, but [for example] if Alien was towards the end of this century, then the prequel story will take place thirty years prior.”

The rest of the article can be read right here, but it does make one wonder what exactly they have in store for us on this impending prequel. Currently Ridley Scott is in the middle of post-production on his own feature rendition on “Robin Hood” and is attached as producer on “The A-Team” which is currently filming in Vancouver.

“Yes, Carl Rinsch is going to do the prequel to ‘Alien.’ He’s one of our directors at our company.”

If they are going to add to the Alien franchise, thankfully they are doing a prequel and not another sequel. No word yet on whether Sigourney Weaver is set to star, but Scott did mention that he hoped to begin filming before the end of the year.

As a huge fan of the Alien movies, I am really excited about the prequel but unsure at the same time. What do you think? Are they going to screw it up? Prequel or sequel? And why an unknown commercial director for a project this big?

Source: Collider