Synopsis

In 2093, scientists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway follow star maps discovered among ancient human artifacts to the distant moon LV-223. Aboard the Weyland Corporation vessel Prometheus, the expedition encounters remnants of an advanced civilization and evidence that may explain humanity's origins. Their search for answers soon becomes a desperate struggle against biological threats and forces that challenge the very idea of creation.

Factoids & Trivia

• The project began as a more direct Alien prequel titled Alien: Engineers. Damon Lindelof later rewrote the screenplay, shifting the emphasis toward mythology, creation, and humanity's search for its makers.

• The title refers to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity. The name reflects the film's interest in creators, creations, and rebellion against higher powers.

• Production designer Arthur Max and his team worked backward from Alien's visual style, imagining technology and architecture that could logically precede the 1979 film. The designs drew on earlier work by H.R. Giger, Ron Cobb, and Chris Foss.

• H.R. Giger was consulted during production. His involvement included approving the use of ideas from unused Alien-era designs and contributing to the film's visual development.

• The film's viral campaign included a TED-style presentation set in the fictional year 2023, featuring Peter Weyland discussing technological progress and human ambition. Another promotional video introduced the android David as a commercial product.

• Ridley Scott had Prometheus filmed in 3D, using the format not only for spectacle but also to emphasize the scale of the alien environments and the isolation of the expedition.

• Composer Marc Streitenfeld recorded some orchestral material with the musicians playing it backward, then digitally reversed the recordings for the finished soundtrack to create an unsettling sound.

• Prometheus was released in the United States on June 8, 2012, and later led into the continuing prequel storyline explored in Alien: Covenant.