Summary
Prometheusexpanded theAlienfranchise with a ton of fascinating backstory and lore, but it also opened up several questions, including that of David’s words to the Last Engineer. WhilePrometheusis commonly considered to be one of thelesserAlienmovies, it’s vital to establish the expanded lore premises of following movies likeCovenantandRomulus. The film introduces David (Michael Fassbender), an android created by billionaire Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), who’s sent aboard the Prometheus vessel to fulfill his creator’s wishes.
While David and Weyland’s dynamic isn’t central toPrometheus, it is central to the overarching thematic ideas Ridley Scott explored in the film. Just as Weyland is looking for his creator, the Engineers, the android David also explores his relationship withhiscreator. In the climactic scene where Weyland is brought to meet the Last Engineer,Weyland utilizes David’s language skills to communicate, causing the Last Engineer to lash out at them violently. He kills Weyland and beheads David, begging questions about what the android said.
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David’s Message To The Engineer In Prometheus Explained
David Speaks On Weyland’s Behalf, But What Does He Say?
In a 2012 article fromThe Bioscopist, the writer explains that he spoke with Dr. Anil Biltoo, the linguistics consultant who worked onPrometheus,and requested an English translation for the line. The line is Proto-Indo-European, which David is seen learning earlier in the film. In the scene,he says, “This man is here because he does not want to die. He believes you can give him more life.“The translation clarifies Weyland’s goal, which is to meet his creators in hopes of achieving immortality.
Guy Pearce’s Weyland is one of the most fascinating characters in theAlienmythology despite only having a brief number of scenes. He’s expanded on inAlien: Covenantin its opening scene and is even referenced in the newAlien: Romulusties the prequels to the originals. He’s a wealthy billionaire who’s developed a god complex and sees himself finding the answers to humanity’s greatest questions through the use of the Prometheus crew. Ironically, he’s killed almost immediately after meeting the Last Engineer.
Why The Engineer Attacked The Prometheus Crew After David Used The Alien Language
The Last Engineer’s Motives Aren’t Entirely Clear
Though the movie hints that David has his own motivations here, what he says to the Last Engineer isn’t really provocative, raising more questions about why the being reacts in the way he does. It seems likethe reason he lashes out at them is because his civilization had already declared itself against humanity, and he was surprised to have been woken up by them. He likely just saw them as an obstacle in the way of getting on his ship and getting off the planet.Prometheusis a bit confusing, but there are some interesting takeaways for the larger franchise.
A deleted scene from Prometheus explores this exchange further, providing motivation for the Last Engineer’s attack. However, it’s not what ultimately happens in the movie.
Sources:The Bioscopist
Prometheus
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
