Scott told an audience at the Hero Complex Film Festival over the weekend that the film does in fact have a script and is currently in development. Not only that, but the story is set so far ahead of the original 1979 Alien that there may be room for two prequels to fit in to the other pile of projects Scott's committed to:
He said he was always amazed that no one explored the backstory of "The Space Jockey" in the sequels because it's so obvious in the first movie. So now a script has been written and it's being prepped. The story has no set timeline except that it's WAY before the first Alien so that they can fit in enough history for two movies. Scott explained that once you learn the history of how the jockey encountered the aliens, you'll also want to learn about how he got there.
He's done a lot of underwater research for the upcoming movies.
This film will go very deep into the possibilities of terra forming and the realities of what it would actually take for humans to leave earth. He then started talking sort of technically about light speed and stuff.
Well, more power to him. I'd say let's some casting rumors going, except it's kind of obvious Russell Crowe will play the Space Jockey, right? Any other roles?
ยท Ridley Scott Dishes on Two ALIEN Prequels And Much More at Hero Complex Film Festival