Synopsis

Scientists aboard the spaceship Prometheus travel to a distant moon after discovering clues suggesting that humanity was created by an advanced extraterrestrial civilization. Their search for answers leads them into abandoned structures, hostile biological discoveries, and a confrontation with beings connected to the origins of life and the terrifying mythology associated with Alien.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Untitled Alien Prequel" was an early working title for the project that became Prometheus (2012), identified by IMDb ID tt1446714.

• The film began as a direct prequel to Alien, but the screenplay was reshaped into a more independent story while retaining connections to the earlier film's mythology.

• An earlier title was Paradise, inspired by John Milton's Paradise Lost. The title Prometheus was chosen instead because the filmmakers felt it revealed less about the story.

• The production used practical sets and creature effects extensively, with computer-generated imagery added for environments, visual effects, and selected creatures.

• Exterior material was filmed in Iceland, including locations near the Hekla volcano and Dettifoss waterfall. Wadi Rum in Jordan was also used to create the alien landscape.

• The movie was filmed in 3-D. Because 3-D photography required brighter lighting, some of the dark visual atmosphere associated with Alien was recreated during color grading.

• H. R. Giger's visual influence remained important. The design team also drew on unused concepts and artistic ideas associated with the earlier film.

• The marketing campaign expanded the film's fictional world through promotional videos, including a TED presentation set in the year 2023 and an advertisement for the David 8 android.

• The film received an R rating in the United States and was released without cuts. Its surgical self-operation sequence was identified as a major factor in the rating.

• Prometheus earned approximately $403 million worldwide and was followed by Alien: Covenant in 2017.