Summary
TheAlienfranchisehas built an incredible mythos around terrifying monsters, andPrometheusplayed an important part in building that legacy, which is hinted at in the title. When the firstAlienmovie came out in 1979, no one could have predicted how big and far-reaching the films would become. It helped to establish a whole new genre of sci-fi horror which leaned more heavily into the monsters that occupy the depths of space, and created something that felt completely new, despite other sci-fi films featuring aliens before, likeInvasion of the Body Snatcherswhich came out a year earlier.
However, over time, the franchise has grown from a simplehorror sci-fi movie, to an entire mythology that explores the origins of these creatures, and their relationship to the worlds and species around them. While the aliens remain mysterious in some ways, each new entry reveals more about the creatures and their adaptability, butPrometheusset out to really explore the origins of the story. This is perfect, because the title actually hints at the story, and set up a new trend in the franchise.
Alien: Romulus May Struggle To Break One Franchise Record Set By Ridley Scott’s Divisive $403M Movie
Even if Alien: Romulus is a huge hit, there is one major Alien franchise box office record that the upcoming sci-fi horror is unlikely to beat.
Prometheus' Title Comes From Greek Mythology
It’s All In The Title
In Greek mythology, Prometheus is an important figure who created man on Earth. Prometheus is one of the Titans, an ancient race of beings who preceded the Gods themselves. His story is tied in with the origin of the species and his very name now stands for intelligence and ambition, to the point of breaking the mold and creating something new. The story ofFrankensteinby Mary Shelley is subtitled,The Modern Prometheus, because thestory follows a man whose ambitions lead him to create new life, before the consequences of that new life grow to cause great harm and misfortune.
This title was then used for the fifth entry in theAlienfranchise, which was also an effort to revive the franchise after a 15-year hiatus. This tie-in to Greek mythology was a great way to redefine the franchise and dig in to the history of the monsters that terrorizedcharacters like Ellen Ripleyacross several films. While exposing their history could have made the aliens less ominous,Prometheusdid a decent job at creating an origin storythat maintained the eerie and visceral feeling of the earlier titles, even if it wasn’t as well-received.
How The Titan Prometheus Connects To The Alien Prequel
The God Of Mischief And Fire
The story of Prometheus defines a relationship between the Titan, who was a trickster and a god of fire. This relationship with fire is more an example of his engineering and technical prowess, which made him a great inventor and innovator, andthe being who created humankind. However, due to the jealousy of Olympian gods like Zeus, a trap was set for Prometheus to cause his beloved creations great distress and suffering. Zeus sent Pandora to seduce Prometheus and win his heart, so she could unleash death, destruction, and despair upon humankind.
In the film,Prometheus, the Engineersare a mysterious ancient species who traveled through space, creating new life on several planets. These Engineers were also the originators of the human race, when a single Engineer sacrificed himself and literallyaltered his own DNA to form the first microorganismsthat would evolve to become humankind. However, humans would eventually be confronted by terrifying monsters that would be a source of horror, pain and suffering, just like in the mythological story.
I’m Excited For Alien: Romulus, But I’m Still Waiting For A Sequel To Divisive $240 Million Movie
While Alien: Romulus promises a thrilling return to the franchise’s sci-fi horror roots, we’re still frustrated that another story hasn’t concluded.
How Prometheus' Title Links To Other Alien Titles
The Tradition Continues With Covenant And Romulus
However, the tie-in with Greek mythology in Prometheus was just the beginning for the series. In 2017, the next entry,Alien: Covenantalso used a less common word to highlight the film’s premise. Covenant is a word with Hebrew origins, which indicates an agreement, or promise between two parties. In the movie, David, the android played by Michael Fassbender who appears inPrometheus,returns and plays a pivotal role in engineering the evolving Xenomorph species. Thetitle hints at his relationship with the creatures.
Then, in 2024, the next entry inthe Alien franchise,Alien: Romulus,employs the use of a Roman mythological figure as part of the title. Romulus was one of two twins who founded Rome. Romulus was an aggressive and ambitious figure who eventually killed his brother and ruled over Rome for a prolonged period. Considering the use of these titles to convey and hint at a part of the story like inPrometheus, it appears that theAlienfranchisewill continue using these kinds of titles for the foreseeable future.
Prometheus
Cast
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
