WithPrometheus, Ridley Scott set out to write a new chapter in theAlienmythology he helped to create, yet in doing so, the legendary filmmaker continued a trend that has been a defining aspect of his career. Ridley Scott is the creative force behind some of the most influential and iconic movies of all time. Aside fromAlien, his work on projects likeBlade Runner,Gladiator, andBlack Hawk Downhas won widespread acclaim. However, while his visionary style has made him one of the biggest names in the business, there is another, more frustrating aspect of his career, embodied byPrometheus.
Released in 2012, 33 years after the originalAlienmovie,Prometheuspromised to resolve some lingering mysteries around the wider franchise. While the movie’s story and narrative focus underwent multiple revisions, its very existence represents Scott’s continued obsession withtheAliencanon– an obsession reiterated by the release ofAlien: Covenant, five years afterPrometheus. If nothing else,this shows the passion Scott has for his creations. However, it also proves one of the biggest trends ofRidley Scott’s career– that he is almost incapable of leaving his movies alone after release.
Prometheus Proves Ridley Scott Can’t Leave His Movies Alone
He Consistently Revisits Old Stories
Prometheus' story, which sees a ship of scientists travel to a mysterious planet in order to reveal more about humanity’s origins, is perhaps the most infamous example of Ridley Scott being unable to resist tinkering with his previous films. The prequel’s mere existence is evidence of howAlien’s biggest enduring questionshave an ongoing influence on the director. The film addresses the so-called “space jockey”, the origins of the mysterious alien vessel from LV-426, and even how the xenomorphs themselves came to be created.
The truth is that none of these questions needed to be answered.Alien’s power comes from the terrifying lack of explanationand the sudden realization that the universe is much bigger – and scarier – than we could ever have imagined. However, even though this theme madeAlienone of thegreatest sci-fi horrors ever made, Scott still couldn’t resist undermining the mystery. InPrometheus' case, his urge to revisit resulted in two entirely new films, both of which damagedAlien’s legacy. However, while making a movie is an extreme way to demonstrate your dissatisfaction, it is not the only way Scott has played with previous projects.
Prometheus Is Just Part Of A Bigger Career Trend
It’s Been Happening Throughout His Career
Perhaps more so than any other filmmaker,Ridley Scott has demonstrated a propensity for unearthing his previous films and altering them post-release. His director’s cut list is incredibly long, encompassing some of his best-known projects. Notoriously,Blade Runnerunderwent multiple revisions beforeThe Final Cutin 2007. Likewise,Kingdom of HeavenandAmerican Gangsterboth received much-altered extended editions, and even more recent undertakings likeNapoleonhave been massively changed post-release.
…the stats indicate that Scott changes almost 50% of his movies following their initial release.
In fact, perCBR,Scott has made no less than 11 director’s cuts over the years– not counting the multipleBlade Runnerrevisions (where his involvement and creative control is still a matter of some debate). Considering that his entire directorial career comprises 29 movies, the stats indicate that Scott changes almost 50% of his movies following their initial release. WhilePrometheus' decision to graft a completely different narrative onto a pre-existing story is his most radical alteration, the rest of Scott’s career proves that it’s just part of a broader pattern.
Some Of His Best Movies Have Been Director’s Cuts
Given the way theAlienfranchise has moved on, coupled with the unsatisfactory in-universeexplanations for the xenomorph’s origins, it’s fair to say thatPrometheus' attempted revisionism is a failure. While the merits of the movie itself are up for debate,its impact on the widerAliennarrative has been to overcomplicate and muddywhat was previously an elegant story that preyed upon our primal fear of the unknown. However, whilePrometheus’Alienchangeswere ultimately disappointing, the rest of Ridley Scott’s career suggests that his revisions aren’t always doomed to failure.
Blade Runneris the ultimate example. When it was released, studio interference and disagreements over the story and tone resulted in a compromised release that severely mitigated the movie’s impact. While many people felt there was a masterpiece within it, earlyBlade Runnerversions were so flawed that they obscured the film’s true potential.It’s arguably only sinceThe Final Cutthat the movie has come to be recognized as an indisputable great of sci-fi cinema– something that would not have been possible without Scott’s appetite for alteration.
Similarly, less culturally resonant Scott projects have also benefited hugely from the director’s potential for retrospection. TheKingdom of Heavendirector’s cut, for example, took what many consider to be an ambitious yet flawed historical drama, and transformed it into an “epic where the theatrical release was truncated” (perEmpire). Likewise, in 2024, Scott’s extendedNapoleonedition added similar breadth to a limited theatrical release. IfPrometheusshows the potential pitfalls of changing past films, these examples demonstrate that there can be benefits.
