Quite a hubbub occurred earlier today over 20th Century Fox’s supposed difficulty in developing a sequel to Prometheus, and now screenwriter Damon Lindelof has provided a statement on the matter.  Talk of a follow-up to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi film has been around ever since Scott and Co. were doing press for the first film, with both Scott and Lindelof offering up plenty of details regarding where Prometheus 2 might lead.  The first film was developed with an eye towards possibly moving forward with a full trilogy should audiences spark to Prometheus, and with a global box office haul of $403 million, Fox is understandably keen on getting a sequel going soon.

Lindelof opted not to come back and pen the script for the follow-up due to scheduling issues, and a new report today claims that Fox and Scott are “freaking out” over trying to figure out the story for Prometheus 2 after Lindelof “abandoned” the project.  Hit the jump for much more, including Lindelof’s comment on the matter.

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Image via 20th Century Fox

First a bit of background on the matter.  We learned last August that a Prometheus sequel was possibly being targeted for release in 2014 or 2015.  Lindelof subsequently took himself out of the running for the Prometheus 2 scripting gig when he realized that he wouldn’t be able to devote his full attention to the project in the near future, as he had already committed to writing and producing Disney’s Tomorrowland with director Brad Bird and also has a new TV series for HBO to develop.

Noomi Rapace recently claimed that work on a sequel script was underway, but a report from Bloody Disgusting early this morning claims that that’s far from the truth:

“Sources close to the sequel have told Bloody Disgusting that the studio and Scott are literally ‘freaking out’ over how to continue the story of Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), and are taking pitches from basically anyone who can crack the story. While a sequel is nearly inevitable, it definitely puts it in flux, and in a state of jeopardy.”

BD claimed that the “freak out” was due to Lindelof jumping ship and leaving Fox and Scott without a script for the follow-up, despite the fact that one could easily see Scott hiring another screenwriter to continue with the idea for the Prometheus sequel that he himself developed alongside Lindelof.

Naturally this report caused quite a bit of commotion, and the folks over at /Film reached out to Lindelof for a clarification on the matter.  The scribe responded with a lengthy and genial letter in which he reiterated the fact that when he was brought on to rewrite the script for Prometheus, there was a strong desire from all involved (including Fox and Scott) for the film “to launch off in its own way so that by the end, it would not connect directly to the original Alien, but instead run parallel to it.”

Lindelof went on to explain once again that he declined to pen the sequel due to his busy schedule, and directly addressed the claims that Scott and Fox are in a tiff over how to continue the story:

“As to whether Ridley and Fox are ‘freaking out’ about me not working on a sequel, well that’s news to me. I retain awesome relationships with both. More importantly, the idea that there aren’t many, MANY writers out there capable of taking the reins is sort of ridiculous. I did not map out a trilogy and then walk when the going got tough. Anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know me and doesn’t know the truth.”

I’m with Lindelof in that it’s a tad crazy to think that Fox believes he is the only guy that can successfully pen the script for Prometheus 2.  It’s possible that the studio and Scott are having a tough time coming up with a worthwhile story for a Prometheus sequel, but I don’t see how that’s entirely Lindelof’s fault.  Scott is currently in post-production on The Counselor and is said to be eyeing the Moses biopic Exodus as his next film, so his availability could also be an issue hindering movement on the Prometheus follow-up.

Whatever the case, I’m sure an announcement regarding an official screenwriter for the sequel will be coming sooner rather than later.  Head over to /Film to read Lindelof's full statement.

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Image via 20th Century Fox