Latest news with #WeylandYutani
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The future of Alien, without Sigourney Weaver
In space, no one can hear you scream. But what about down here? Well, we're about to find out. Having spent seven movies in the furthest reaches of the galaxy, the Alien franchise, begun by Ridley Scott in 1979, is about to be, quite literally, brought down to Earth. In Noah Hawley's upcoming Disney+ TV series, Alien: Earth, a research vessel owned by the megacorp Weyland-Yutani, familiar from the films, crash-lands into the Bangkok of 2120 (two years before the events onboard the spaceship Nostromo in the first Alien film). The crash brings HR Giger's unmistakable Xenomorph, plus a whole host of other nasty intergalactic beasties, to our planet. The snappy new tagline tells you all you need to know: 'We were safer in space.' Hawley – the writer-director known for his innovative take on Marvel superheroes in Legion and his daring extension of Coen Brothers' lore in the Fargo anthology series – has given the sci-fi horror franchise another twist. Alongside the familiar 'synths' – the unsettling androids made famous in the franchise by Ian Holm, Lance Henriksen and (in the Prometheus films) Michael Fassbender – and cybernetically enhanced 'cyborgs' (humans with hi-tech additions), Hawley has introduced an even more troubling creation: the 'hybrid'. These are synthetic beings downloaded with human consciousness, created by a shadowy corporation named Prodigy. In this case, the consciousness of a group of terminally ill children, who become known as 'the Lost Boys'. Forget Alien, this is Frankenstein for the 21st century. 'The first idea when I started thinking about Alien was the fact it's not just a monster movie,' says Hawley. 'The Ian Holm reveal – that he was a synthetic. He was artificial intelligence, and that artificial intelligence was trying to kill them.' When Hawley began writing the show, 'ChatGPT didn't exist', but the series' central question about our reliance on and suspicion of AI has become eerily prescient. 'It's like Noah saw into the future,' says Sydney Chandler, who plays Wendy, the leader of the Lost Boys and the central figure of Alien: Earth. It is the past, however, that has inspired Hawley. The look and feel, particularly in the opening scene, is pure 1970s. Andy Nicholson, the production designer, pored slavishly over the original two films (1979's Alien and James Cameron's 1986 follow-up Aliens). He used the Nostromo as a blueprint for the vessels and taking inspiration from 1970s Italian furniture and car interiors. 'We decided it should be the future as imagined in 1979,' says Nicholson, 'and not to go in the direction of Prometheus'. Scott, an executive producer on the project, was happy to let them get on with it. 'Every time I spoke to him, he was storyboarding,' says Hawley. 'First House of Gucci, then The Last Duel, and then Napoleon. He made at least three movies while I was making one season of television.' Both Hawley and Nicholson are careful not to criticise Scott's Prometheus movies, but it's clear they want a clean break from them. 'The 1970s movie-ness of Ridley's film and the very 1980s movie-ness of Cameron's film, those were a big part of it for me,' says Hawley. 'Prometheus is a prequel, but one in which the technology feels thousands of years more futuristic. So I had a choice. And there was just no way to make Alien without the retrofuturism of technology.' Indeed, much of the look has stuck so closely to the first two films' concepts that many of the original designers have been given production credits on Alien: Earth. This is seen most starkly in the very first few minutes of the show, which begins just as Alien did, with a group of workers on board a vessel bound for Earth, the Weyland-Yutani owned Maginot, waking up from cryostasis. The aesthetic – from the furnishings and computer graphics to the sweaters and the moustaches – is pure 1979. 'I really wanted to send a message that the movie I was most inspired by was Ridley's,' explains Hawley. Even Jeff Russo's soaring score apes that of Jerry Goldsmith's memorable intro music – with a twist. 'You want to pay homage to what came before and yet also forge a new identity – that's the trick, right?' says Russo. As we approach the Maginot, Russo's orchestral title track is assailed by distortion and, most disturbingly, human voices. It's Alien, Jim, but not as we know it. Soon the Maginot, and its mason jars of alien lifeforms, are lying in pieces in Prodigy City, 'New Siam', on a sweltering Earth. Those lifeforms were the major challenge. Hawley decided they could not simply rely upon Giger's world-famous, biomechanical Xenomorph. Nicholson felt the pressure: 'The Xenomorph was the scariest space creature you'd ever seen. And these creatures had to be worse.' Before the Maginot goes down in flames, we see the jars and glass boxes filled with all sorts of primordial, unearthly beings. 'The first movie is rooted so much in body horror and a genetic revulsion about parasites,' says Hawley, 'and this really uncomfortable, pseudosexual, penetrative design aesthetic. So I just went with: what is the worst thing? What makes me the most uncomfortable or repulsed or disgusted?' The answer, seemingly, lies in a creature known as T Ocellus, a grotesque, tentacled octopus/jellyfish thing that seems to be made out of eyes. 'That was the one,' says Nicholson, wincing. 'I saw the design and thought, 'Oh God, who came up with that?'' The jury is out on whether it is the creatures that will scare the living daylights out of viewers or whether it will be Boy Kavalier, a 20-year-old tech trillionaire played by Samuel Blenkin who runs Prodigy and has created the synthetic-human hybrids. In the world of Alien: Earth, humanity is controlled by five megacorporations who, in the style of the East India Company, have largely usurped democratic governments. The companies are in an arms race for control of the Earth, the known galaxy and the future of human life itself. Thus when Weyland-Yutani's ship crashes into Prodigy City, Kavalier smells an opportunity. An unscrupulous tech CEO with a god complex? Which real-life equivalent could Hawley have been thinking of? All of them, he says: 'It's narcissism that defines so many of these figures. The 'Great Man' has come back. And yet in many ways none of them want to grow up. If there's a metaphor between our show and our present moment, it's when you look around at all the really deep, complicated, intrinsic problems that we're having on this planet. What they really require to solve them is adults.' Not wanting to grow up is key to the Peter Pan-obsessed Kavalier, who has named his research facility Neverland and reads the book to the children each night. When they transition to their synthetic bodies, Kavalier rechristens them all from JM Barrie's story – alongside Wendy, there's Slightly, Tootles, Curly, Nibs and Smee. Kavalier, of course, is The Boy Who Never Grew Up. 'He likes that analogy,' says Hawley. 'Peter Pan is a dark book. There's a moment where Peter is angry and frustrated, so he breathes in and out as quickly as he can, because he believes that every breath he takes kills a grown-up. And it is implied that as the Lost Boys mature, he 'thins them out', to keep that out of his world. And those elements felt like they fit, thematically.' Chandler's Wendy is the first of the Lost Boys to transition and acts as a big sister to the others as they get used to their new – adult, superhuman, immortal – bodies. Chandler, the 29-year-old daughter of actor Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Bloodline), is a relative unknown, yet was determined to land the role. She flew out to Canada, where Fargo was being filmed, the morning after reading the script, and convinced Hawley to let her take him for dinner. Her determination (she calls it 'impulsivity') and passion for the role impressed him. It's a great piece of casting – Chandler imbues Wendy with an otherworldly gawkiness, a disarming innocence and an unnerving unknowability. The actress, understandably, wishes to avoid comparison between Wendy and Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. 'You can't recreate Alien. You can't recreate Ripley. If the scripts had gone in that direction, I wouldn't have wanted to do it. My goal was to bring as much strength and honesty and integrity and backbone to the character [as I could], because that's what I looked up to when I saw Alien for the first time.' For all the ingenious concepts within Alien, what underpins the franchise is human greed and the extent to which corporations are happy to play God. Like all classic sci-fi, the humans in the TV series unleash forces they can no longer control. Does Hawley feel that, via AI, we are at such a point now? 'I don't think AI is going to take my job,' he says. 'But I'm at a rarified level of storytelling, with an idiosyncratic approach. [However] I think if you are a writer on Law & Order, you should be worried.' But Hawley has bigger concerns, and they can be seen in the blood, guts and synth fluid of Alien: Earth. 'Europe does a much better job of regulating technology and thinking about the human implications of it. In the US, it's still about the dollar. And I worry there are no brakes on this train, because the people who would be the brakes are not incentivised to slow it down. I worry it's going to get away from us very quickly. If it hasn't already.' Alien: Earth comes to Disney+ on August 13 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Predator is prey in the Predator: Badlands trailer
The new trailer for Predator: Badlands, the latest installment in director Dan Trachtenberg's reimagined Predator series, isn't shy about its Alien connection. Opening on a shot of the android Thia (Elle Fanning), the trailer makes no effort to hide who this synthetic's MU/TH/UR is. Weyland-Yutani, the dastardly corporation behind the trials of Ellen Ripley, is front and center in the trailer for Predator: Badlands, a movie poised to break the series wide-open and use 20th Century Studios' properties to its advantage. What could Weyland-Yutani be looking for on 'the most dangerous planet in the universe?' Based on the company's history, a creature for the betterment of mankind. Predator: Badlands follows a young predator named Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi), who straps Thia to his back C-3PO-style and sets off on his first hunt. Every other Predator film sees one ugly motherf— making its way to Earth in search of a worthy opponent, whether that be Danny Glover, Amber Midthunder, or your everyday Xenomorph. What this movie asks is, what if Predator became prey? Featuring sentient vines and dinosaur-sized baddies, Badlands pitches the most fantastical and expansive theatrical entry in the series' 40-year history. Predator: Badlands begins the hunt in theaters on November 7. More from A.V. Club A classic Sunny takes on Cybertrucks and slap fights South Park officially lands new deal hours before season 27 premiere NBC passes on Rutherford Falls team sitcom about Native community center Solve the daily Crossword
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The ‘Predator' Dropped In San Diego For a Surprise ‘Badlands' Experience
Usually, activations at San Diego Comic-Con are announced at least a few weeks in advance. That gives fans an opportunity to prioritize their favorites, map them out, and then hit the ground running. This year though, one major experience seemed to join the party late. That's Predator Badlands, which took over a huge section attached to the Hard Rock Hotel across from the convention center. Outside, security answered the questions of passersby about when the experience would open. And inside, the experience took you into the world of the movie. After being greeted by an incredibly large Predator at the entrance, you immediately enter the Predator's ship. First, as seen in both Predator 2 and the trailer for Badlands, are the trophies of hunts past. Dinosaurs, strange aliens, and doesn't that look like a skull from Indiana Jones and a head from Independence Day? Probably a coincidence. After you pass a wall of weapons, you enter a Weyland-Yutani lab. There are weapons in there too, but they're much more human. Inside there's also the corpse of a woman. Or at least she looks like a woman. She's got an android's blood all over her. How many times has this android been remade? As you exit the room, a very weird, creepy creature leaps out of its container before you enter the grassy area that is supposed to be the planet the film primarily takes place on. There you end your journey by seeing Thia, the Weyland-Yutani synthetic played by Elle Fanning. And she might even talk to you. Compared to other experiences at Comic-Con, the Predator Badlands one wasn't quite as memorable, large, or fun as some others, but the attention to detail and teases of what's to come in the movie were incredibly cool. I left the experience very, very anxious and excited about seeing how this ship, this lab, these worlds, and these characters all fit together. Here are some more photos from the experience. Predator Badlands opens in theaters November 7. For Comic-Con attendees, the experience at the Hard Rock is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Alien: Earth' Crashes Into Comic-Con With a Massive Outdoor Experience
The USCSS Maginot, a Weyland Yutani research vessel, crashed into the large lawn next to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend. Onlookers remarked they hoped there was nothing dangerous on board, as containers had spilled all over the surrounding area. That's both the tease for a very cool activation put together by FX for its new show, Alien: Earth, as well as the setup for Alien: Earth itself. The show, which debuts August 12, centers on a crashed ship and all the horrors that it contains. One of them is a xenomorph, everyone's favorite killer alien with acid for blood. But the xeno isn't the only creature on the Maginot. At least on the show. At Comic-Con, it was the main one, but there were teases of others. io9 was lucky enough to walk through the Alien Earth activation during the daytime of the con, with the understanding this was just half the experience. You could also come back in the evening, and what was once light, bright, and open becomes dark, dim, and scary. It's a whole other, more terrifying experience. But even in the daylight, the amount of work and detail that's been put into this activation is impressive. You enter through an almost military installation surrounding the crashed ship. Containers with those classic Alien eggs are scattered about, as well as some new, odd, yellow eggs. You enter the MUTHUR computer room, just like out of the original film, and traverse two long hallways, both of which have been torn to pieces by… something. Finally, you enter a massive research facility, which offers a hint of just how many different species had been collected by the ship, only to, in the end, finally be greeted by the Xeno itself. Luckily, we survived. Here's a video of the experience. View this post on InstagramAnd here are a few photos. If you're at Comic-Con, the Alien: Earth exhibition is on the Hilton Bayfront Lawn and is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the one experience and then 4:30 to 10 p.m. for the 'Code Red' evening experience. The daytime experience will also be open Sunday from 11 a.m. to a.m.-3 p.m. Alien: Earth is on FX August 12, and we'll have more soon. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
It Sure Sounds Like ‘Alien Vs. Predator' May Return In the Future
So over here we've got new Alien movies and a new Alien TV show. And over there we've got new Predator movies expanding that universe. Then, in the upcoming Predator movie, a prominent character is made by Weyland-Yutani, a company at the center of the original Alien film, which also plays a large role in the new Alien movies and TV shows. What the heck is going on here? Friday at San Diego Comic-Con offered fans a rare opportunity to hear from two of the people primarily responsible for major franchises, in the same place, on the same day. And that's exactly what happened in both the Alien: Earth and Predator: Badlands panels, which both took place in Hall H. First up, at the Alien: Earth panel, a fan asked showrunner and creator Noah Hawley if Alien vs. Predator was something we might see in the future. 'I don't have any current involvement in that combo package,' Hawley said. 'But I love seeing that Dan Trachtenberg is continuing with the Predator series. This new movie looks great, and my question is, 'Can't we all just get along?'' An expert passing of the buck, to say the least. But, fast forward a few hours, and the person Hawley passed the buck to was on the same stage. Moderator Kevin Smith asked Trachtenberg about if the fact that Weyland Yutani, a company from Alien, is in Predator: Badlands is teasing at an eventual showdown. 'I think sometimes people that are dabbling in cinematic universes, there's a seduction to grab all the action figures and smush them all together,' Trachtenberg said. 'And I really didn't want to do that, and I really wanted to make sure if we ever do something, it would be a little more elegant.' Smith pressed him for more. Could he, the person now responsible for Predator, bring Aliens in? 'Wouldn't it be cool?' the director added. The crowd roared. Of course, one person not in attendance who'd have a say in this, outside of the executives paying for everything, is Fede Alvarez. Alvarez made last year's Alien Romulus and is expected to return to that world in the future. But, since Trachtenberg is clearly linking his Predator movies with Alien and continues to expand the Predator franchise by bringing back iconic characters like Danny Glover's Lt. Harrigan and Arnold Schwarzenegger's Dutch, there's clearly a larger plan in place (oh, you didn't hear about that? Yes, that happened). And that plan may just be heading toward the Alien and Predator sharing the screen one more time. Do you want to see a new Alien vs. Predator movie? Let us know below. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
