The sci-fi pic Prometheus is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated films of the year. It marks a return to sci-fi for director Ridley Scott, it has an incredible cast, and the footage looks amazing. Much has been made of what the rating of the film will be, given that Scott’s Alien was rated R but we now live in a marketplace dominated by PG-13 blockbusters. Scott himself previously said the film should be rated R and told audiences that the film we see come June will be his director’s cut. In case words from the man himself weren’t reassuring enough, Steve sat down with 20th Century Fox CEO Tom Rothman earlier today at CinemaCon and during their wide-ranging conversation, Rothman has even more assurance that we won’t be seeing a neutered version of Prometheus:
“I can assure the fans—I’m very aware of their concern—absolutely they can take it that the film will not be compromised either way. So if that means that the film is R, then it’ll be an R. If it’s PG-13, then it’ll be a PG-13, but it will not be compromised.
Hit the jump for more:
Unless Scott thinks the PG-13 version plays better, I think we’re gonna be seeing an R-rated Prometheus come June. This is fine by me, as I’m psyched as all get-up at the prospect of Scott returning to the sci-fi/horror genre in full force. Rothman also talked about Fox’s gutsy decision in taking what started as a direct prequel to Alien in a different direction:
“[For] Prometheus, it would have been very easy—in fact probably in Chapter One of the Executive Handbook, if I ever read such a thing, it would say, ‘Go ahead, make a straightforward prequel to Alien.’ That would have been the easy thing to do. Prometheus is the more challenging thing to do. It’s bolder, it’s original, it’s in the universe, but it’s not a literal story-based prequel to [Alien], it’s a wholly new science-fiction entry from Ridley Scott, who hasn’t made a science-fiction film in 30 years.”
As I said, I absolutely cannot wait to see what Scott has cooked up with Prometheus, and you really have to hand it to Fox not only for getting the movie made in the first place, but for leaving the rating decision up to the director even if it means a loss in potential profit.
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It’s absolute Bullshit. Working in the vfx industry I know for sure that they tainted all the blood elements of the movie green instead of Red (as it initially was) to comply with a PG-13 rating. It’s a business. THey don’t want to make the best movie possible (or not only). They just want to attract as many people as possible in theaters. And that means PG-13 at the best.
Well Jay since you seen the movie already how it was it (no spoilers pls..)
THANKYOU
It’s fucking bullshit. And yeah, you can see the greenish black blood in the second trailer. I don’t know what’s with Chitwood’s optimism. Stop sugar-coating it. This announcement is an obvious indication that it WON’T be rated R. Obviously, their too scared to admit that the theatrical version will not be a director’s cut, so the execs give these vague bullshit responses avoiding a direct answer.
There’s no fucking way any major studio has the balls nowadays to stamp an R rating on a 150 mil budget. Even when its among the work of one of the greatest living directors. Think about it. If they were going to make it R, they obviously would’ve announced that by now. Sad, but true.
If studio will lost their money then who will be there to count their balls.
In all honesty…let it be PG-13 if it must…I could care less if the narrative is what it is supposed to be.
And I hate it for everyone that is gonna go “batshit bonkers” over the rating…but with everything and I mean EVERYTHING that I have seen so far (every minute preview, every interview, every snippet, & every AMAZING Prometheus Viral Video/Promo…& I have seen EVERYTHING that I could’ve seen!!!) this fucking thing could be rated G with Pixar involved & I will have ZERO issues with this film.
Christ almighty…when did we all start slamming the door on films (especially a Ridley Scott joint) over a rating.
PG-13 or not…this thing already has me antsy & ready to reside on the remaining 2-4″ of my seat in the theatre…that’s on previews alone…so let the rating be cut.
I don’t care…I just want to see this film.
I don’t need blood, booty, or boorish langauge to enjoy something as precious as Prometheus…& I aint a goTdam plant…so don’t anyone say it.
PLANT!!!
In all honesty…let it be PG-13 if it must…I could care less if the narrative is what it is supposed to be.
And I hate it for everyone that is gonna go “batsh*t bonkers” over the rating…but with everything and I mean EVERYTHING that I have seen so far (every minute preview, every interview, every snippet, & every AMAZING Prometheus Viral Video/Promo…& I have seen EVERYTHING that I could’ve seen!!!) this thing could be rated G with Pixar involved & I will have ZERO issues with this film.
Christ almighty…when did we all start slamming the door on films (especially a Ridley Scott joint) over a rating.
PG-13 or not…this thing already has me antsy & ready to reside on the remaining 2-4″ of my seat in the theatre…that’s on previews alone…so let the rating be cut.
I don’t care…I just want to see this film.
I don’t need blood, booty, or boorish langauge to enjoy something as precious as Prometheus…& I aint a plant…so don’t anyone say it.
Sorry bout the language…I moderated myself & got by just fine without out all the F’s, D’s, & S’s.
How bout that?
All that BS aside…I can’t wait for this’n & am as cited if not more for this than the Avengers & TDKR.
It doesn’t really matter if it’s PG-13 or R (and it’s a big summer tentpole, so I’m almost certain it’ll get the former) — it’s a Ridley Scott film, so the theatrical release is only relevant until the inevitable DVD Director’s Cut that blows it out of the water.
Well Mr. Rothman, if the film is going to be R as it should then why bother doing all this excuse making?
Bottom line – ALIEN is not for 13 year old children. The problem with movies today is they have no integrity and are simply safe, play-by-numbers things that are sold to children.
If you want to win back all the grown-ups who haven’t gone to theaters in years, release the film as a grown-up film.
I find it impossible to believe nothing has been compromised if the film ends up PG-13. Seriously. How can something that’s okay for 13 year old children be hardcore, serious sci-fi? Characters can’t even talk how people really talk in a PG-13 movie. The sheer intensity alone should demand an R and if not, obviously that means the film just isn’t that intense.
Finally! Someone who thinks like me! I couldn’t agree more. I booked my ticket with the IMAX today and currently, Prometheus has a 15-rating; sort of an R-rating if you like. Studio bosses need to allow directors the film they want to make; not some douched-up version of a franchise loved by millions.
IDIOTS – YOU CAN NOT EVEN SAY F*CK IN A PG-13 MOVIE.
Are you F*CKING KIDDING US?!?!
America sucks. We have puritans running the country, censoring everything – throwing people who smoke weed into jail – prohibition, censorship – And yet we “claim” to be a free country!
You can say f*ck only once, as an exclamatory, not in reference to a sexual act. But yeah, the MPAA is a joke and should be dissolved, or replaced with something more transparent and predictable.
Yeah. Swearing is in the heritage of both ALIEN and ALIENS. Imagine either of these films without swearing… Ripley not telling Parker “Why don’t you just f*ck off?” – Hudson not saying “Well whoopdie f*ckin’ do. Hey, I’m impressed.” – PG-13 presents a sanitized, unrealistic version of reality. It censors violence, sex and language but worse yet… It seems to censor any sense of realism.
We need things that are realistic today. Movies that depict things realistically and dramatically. All the drama is gone from cinema because nothing is believable. I just can’t understand how a film that breaks the mold of predictable lameness can fail… Regardless of rating. ESPECIALLY one directed by Ridley Scott. People are going to come out of the woodwork for this one. They already have a guaranteed winner – why not make it a knockout? Just release it uncensored.
wacko: It’s not about the rating – it’s about censorship.
Censorship of any shape or form should NEVER EXIST in true art.
Yet we are being sold so-called art… That’s censored.
Worse yet… Art that’s been designed for commerce rather than for what art really should be about and that’s changing people for the better.
Art is not commerce. Artists have a responsibility to the public to depict things realistically and not lie to them.
PG-13 is censorship in a darker form than simply censoring the violence, language and sex.
It’s censorship of intense situations… In other words, situations depicted realistically.
As long as it’s Mortal Kombat cartoon violence, it’s okay for PG-13.
Show a guy hop from a cliff and then land on his feet below.
But in a Ridley Scott film, things will be depicted realistically.
People won’t survive huge explosions because in real life… They don’t.
This puts it in the realm of other R rated stuff – Even Saving Private Ryan or Scott’s own Black HAwk Down.
Those films could not be anything but R because they depict situations realistically.
You can not do that in PG-13. The hate against PG-13 is simply hatred of censorship and puritan bias.
IMAX in London opened the pre-orders and so far it says 15…
Did anyone ever think that maybe this film doesn’t have to have excessive uses of “Fuck” or amazing amounts of blood and gore to make it the film that everyone wants? If so, than that is a bigger issue than trimming the film to a studio standard. Rothman’s word is enough for me. If the film ends up as a PG-13, then I trust it is still the film that Scott wants everyone to see. If it is R, then I trust the same as well. Stop acting like these people owe you something and start getting excited for this film.
Im reading its euro rating is 13 or something..so what gives?!?
Why worry? Does Ridley not hold the record for most money ever made with a R rated movie on opening day? Hannibal I believe. And Gladiator is number 11 in total domestic gross..
Sorry was wrong about the first bit Hannibal.
Even Ridley Scott himself is saying now that this theatrical version is not his cut! Just fucking look at it! Its a Pg-13 film that got rated with an R… And Ridley said he cut enough of it. I just knew this had to happen with that lying Rothman! How the hell this guy ever made it to the head of 20th century fox with his ideas is beyond me. He’s an idiot and a retard! How many franchises is he allowed to destroy! Hey Rothman! Dont be surpriced if the ovens of fans are heating up you sad fuck!