“Prometheus” screenwriter Damon Lindelof has spilled the beans on some of the mysteries within Ridley Scott’s enigmatic “Alien” prequel. Depending on your point of view, the sci-fi blockbuster is either peppered with plot holes and purposefully obtuse, or an incredibly clever and intricate web of hidden signs, rife with great philosophical significance. However, a recent interview gave Lindelof the opportunity to reveal answers behind some questions, perhaps giving the clearest indication yet that there might be something complex going on here after all.
Participating in an e-mail Q&A with MTV, the former Lost writer was drawn on a number of plot points, some of which he explained. The following is obviously pretty SPOILER heavy.
First up, why did Michael Fassbender’s robot David poison Charlie (Logan Marshall-Green) with the weird alien goo? And did he know in advance that this would lead to the impregnation of Elizabeth (Noomi Rapace) with an tentacle baby? Lindelof had this to say:
In the scene preceding said “poisoning” (but WAS it?), David was chatting with someone in cryo-sleep via headset that we can safely assume is Weyland [Guy Pearce]. If I were a betting man, I’d say something happened in that conversation that very specifically directed David to spike Holloway’s champagne. And yes, it was a safe bet that Holloway would have sex with Shaw soon after. Which is why in space, you should always wear a condom!
He was less forthcoming on the question of who created the “Engineers” – previously only known as the “Space Jockeys” – only revealing that he and Scott do at least have an answer. Instead he offered his own intriguing question to further tantalise fans, suggesting “the more fascinating question is this: Do the Engineers KNOW who created them?” That response could very offer the first clue yet as to the likely story of any sequel.
Finally, on the topic of why our creators turned their back on us – as Rapace’s religious scientist supposes in the film – the scribe had this to say:
Golly, I’m all for ambiguity, but if we didn’t know the answer to THAT one, the audience would have every right to string us up. Yes. There is an answer. One that is hinted at within the goalposts of “Prometheus.” I’ll bet if I asked you to take a guess you wouldn’t be far off.
For our own take on the mysteries surrounding Prometheus, read this excellent piece by Marcus Doidge.
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3 Comments
The creators of the Engineers were hinted at during the film!?!?! This is huge? Anybody know where these hints are?
That answer was aimed at whether the audience knew why the Engineers turned on us, not who were the creators of the engineers.
It’s fairly obvious that the Engineers got a little bit pissed off with the human race’s new-born obsession with religion. Hence why their plans to eradicate the human race bore fruition some 2000 years ago or so. The Engineer’s reaction to Weyland, David, Shaw et al was not only caused by whatever David said (or maybe not at all) but more than likely a reaction to a male human attacking a female human (Weyland’s lackey on Shaw)
I think the hints are in the storage room with all the goo jars. The large face statue being one, and the artwork behind it with the tomb. The artwork on the wall is very “Giger-esque”, and would seem to elude that the Engineers had obviously met the xenomorphs in one form another, and possibly revere them. Revere them as what is a good question. The face statue is the other one. Seems like it should have some kind of higher meaning.