is prometheus a prequel to alien

It is a prequel in the sense that it takes place in the same universe as [i]Alien[/i] and takes place before that film. It is not a prequel in the sense that it doesn't explain or set up anything that happens in [b]Alien[/b]. So the short answer: Yes it is a prequel or sorts, but not a direct prequel. It stands on its own, as its own movie.

*Darn no edit button.* Also, [i]Prometheus[/i] takes place on a planet called LV_223, whereas [i]Alien[/i] takes place on LV_426.

This raises all sorts of questions about what it means to be a "prequel" though. Not only does this movie fail to tie in to Alien 1-4, it actually seems to contradict those movies in some major ways. Obviously, trying to reconcile these inconsistencies leads to some fun discussion on these boards, but I have to say a little part of me worries that this is all just the result of sloppiness...

its not a prequal ridley scott just said that there are two more movies more :)

Like Baron Xenomorph, I think the question of it's status centers on whether similarities in organizational names, set design, and involvement of some of the same species is enough to qualify it as a prequel.

What are you guys smoking? The U shape of the ship as it takes off. The look of dead aliens on the ship that Ripley's crew found. How could this not be considered a prequel?

Of course it's a prequel!! It's just not a direct prequel.. They will make either 1 or 2 more movies the last being a direct prequel to Alien.. So the story will continue as the Alien evolves.

I don't see that it contradicts anything in Alien 1-4 other than our expectations that Space Jockey actually has a trunk. Unless you're thinking that there were no Xenos until that thing bursts out at the end of Prometheus,... but then you're missing the Xeno mural in the chamber which looks like the classic Xeno of Alien, with the cylindrical skull, rather than the tapered one. What we see at the end of Prometheus is not the origin of the species, just a new variant.

In the beginning it was a prequel, then it was a stand-alone, then it was a prequel that was distant, then it was a prequel that had DNA, then it may have surprises on the Blu-Ray and now we expect at least two more sequel's to make logical consequence of this film...they arrived at this script on a sit n' spin !

although a little part of me is concerned about the integrity of the mythology as well, ive decided to reinvest in scott's vision (he's earned a little faith from us). After all, i have to say...I enjoyed the hell out of the new film! There is actually nothing in prometheus that directly/explicitly contradicts anything that has been established in the first 3 films. Issues have arisen based solely on speculation and extrapolation on our part as well as the media's (ex: some in the media calling the deacon a proto-xeno. btw, @hadley's hope: i completely agree with your comments above on said issue!) As far as the initial question is concerned, the short answer is yes. XenoJon pretty much gave the definitive answer in his first response. Bring on the second and third film!!!

It's a [b]SPREE-QUEL!!![/b]

[b]TRANSLATION: "I NEED TO THINK IT OVER" ![/b] [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/LT.HIGHTIMES/sambanners2.jpg[/img]

Its is set before the events of Alien and in the same universe. But the events of Prometheus do not directly link to Alien, maybe events prior to Prometheus link to Alien or events after Prometheus. As far as the Mural to me it looks more like the Deacon than the Xeno, from the angle of the Mural if you look at the Deacon at same angle and with mouth closed it would be hard to tell the difference. It does not look directly like the Deacon but also not like the Xeno. I think it shows that some form of organism has same origins or connection to both the Xeno and Deacon.

I would almost call it a Parallelquel in the sense that as the franchise developes (if so) then as the hypothetical second to third one fast approaches that of Alien their story liniages will be, shall we say, within sight of one another just never truely touching or linking up in any grand, direct way. It's like a flat line of the horizon you are all ways reaching out a hand for and heading towards but can never quite reach it as it moves with you in tandem to when you move. Unless there is a desire to link up the apparant third film as it would be a good idea narratively speaking to let any franchise develop to at least the third part in a trilogy as it rounds off the developement in a much neater way. There may be little easter egg nods and flirts going back and forth between each franchise as a means for the producers having fun with the franchise that they in some ways helped to co-create in the first place. It could be an interesting topic to raise for others to offer their views on, should there be two or more films made after Prometheus, should they grow and tie-in ever-further to that of Alien and its franchise or should it continue to navigate ever further away from that of Alien but allow the DNA connection, the easter eggs and the nods to that of Alien become more in frequent, less and less until by a third or fourth film the Prometheus franchise has been so (pardon the punn) Alienated from the Alien franchise that it will eventually influence yet future franchises of other film making topics that have yet to germinate. It is an interestying thought experiment to ponder.

Here is my reasoning to why it is a prequel, but will never be allowed or make its' way to being a prequel. 1. The "franchise" has been directed and written by so many different people nobody knows which way anything is going, and who has contractual miniutia that if it was a prequel would require money going out of this movie to somebody who isn't directly working on this set. 2. According to Wikipedia, Alien was set 30 years after Prometheus. Now, I got the idea from Prometheus that this expedition was funded, by this "mining" company, but I did not get the idea that they were already mining planetoids, moons, or anything throughout the glalaxy or beyond. However, 30 years is a good amount of time to start I supposed, except that this planetoid is approx 2 years or more away from earth. 3. I like Prometheus and it's story as it stands on it's own. I want them to show us the story of David and his human companion as they go find the Engineers and ask them questions. I mean we already know they are pissed at us. Apparently, they have a problem with Androids and Humans alike. 4. The whole predator thing? I mean really? Did we develop predators to save us from the aliens that the engineers concocted?

It's a precursor

Same universe, set beforehand... Its a spin off... Best example would be Star Trek Enterprise, same universe, set beforehand, but not a direct prequel to the 60's classic series, ergo a spin off...

Prometheus -> Alien <- AvP

I guess it's Ridleys' episode one , whether he ties a sequel to Alien is anyones guess , in truth he could probably do it as a small aside in the next one , it probably wouldn't take long. As for Aliens and onwards, why would he bother? Alien is his movie , he doesn't need to concern himself with the rest that came afterwards. I did see an interview with Ridley , and I took it as a nailed on prequel was written originally but Ridley was afraid it was just 'a lazy rework' of Alien and decided the 'Engineer' story to be more interesting,fresh and new , and that's why Lindelof was brought in.