Could Ridley Scott be establishing a shared universe between the Alien and Blade Runner franchises? It seems that it could be possible given the following Easter Egg from the U.K. steelbook release of Prometheus.

The following memo from Peter Weyland, who was played by Guy Pearce, has Weyland talking about his “mentor and long-departed competitor”. No names are mentioned, but it’s pretty obvious to any Blade Runner fan that Weyland is referring to Eldon Tyrell. Tyrell was the head of the Tyrell Corporation who were responsible for creating the Replicant’s minds and memories in Blade Runner.

With a sequel to Blade Runner in the works it couldn’t be entirely unlikely that Scott is setting up a shared universe between the franchises. However, we’re going to have to wait and see on that one. Remember, big things have small beginnings.

Source: The Playlist

The movie may have been out for awhile now but the viral campaign for ‘Prometheus’ seems nowhere close to being done. First we had the post credit flash leading to people wondering “What is 10.11.12?” And now it seems Weyland Industries will have a presence at San Diego Comic Con.

Project Prometheus

Could this be similar to what Marvel did last year with recruiting S.H.I.E.L.D. agents? Does this tie-in with 10.11.12 in some way? Why is there even more questions even after the movie?! Damn you Ridley Scott. Color me intrigued.

Sir Ridley Scott recently spoke with Collider and not only did he express his interest in doing a sequel he also spoke about an extended cut of the film as well as some of the deleted scenes. Warning: minor spoilers lie ahead if you have not seen the film.

On Deleted scenes:

SCOTT: This is fundamentally the director’s cut. But there will be half an hour of stuff on the menu because people are so into films—how they’re made, how they’re set up, and the rejections in it. That’s why it’s fascinating. So this will all go on to the menu.

Collider: Well I’m curious about the deleted scenes. Specifically in this film, Noomi [Rapace] mentioned maybe there was a fight scene with her and an Engineer.

SCOTT: The Engineer fight scene was pretty good. It will definitely go on the menu. It won’t go on the long version. The problem about it is, while she gives as good as she gets with an axe (she’s very physical), he’s so big, for him to be clouted with a conventional weapon somehow diminished him. It’s subtle. It’s drama. I didn’t want to diminish him by having this person who has a weapon to be able to back him off. It minimized him. That’s why when he deals with people inside his cockpit, it’s over. Wham, wham, wham. Even the shot doesn’t mean anything. And so all she has time for is introducing him to the big boy inside the lab.

Collider: You’re going to do an extended cut on the Blu-ray/DVD. Is it a lot longer?

SCOTT: Twenty minutes.

Collider: So there’s, like, twenty minutes that will be added back in for a longer version?

SCOTT: Maybe. But I’m so happy with this engine, the way it is right now. I think it’s fine. I think it works. It can go in a section where, if you really want to tap in, look at the menu. To see how things are long, and it’s too long. Dramatically, I’m about putting bums on seats. For me to separate my idea of commerce from art—I’d be a fool. You can’t do that. I wouldn’t be allowed to do the films I do. So I’m very user friendly as far as the studios are concerned. To a certain extent, I’m a businessman. I’m aware that’s what I have to do. It’s my job. To say, “Screw the audience.” You can’t do that. “Am I communicating?” is the question. Am I communicating? Because if I’m not, I need to address it.

 

Personally, I love the film and can’t wait to see this extended cut to see if it adds onto the film. And with how the film has already surpassed its budget in under two days of being out domestically…a sequel is pretty much guaranteed.

‘Prometheus’ is in theatres now.

Spoiler warning ahead! If you haven’t seen ‘Prometheus’ by now I advise you to turn away. But if you have seen ‘Prometheus’ by now and stayed through the credits you saw this mysterious date flash across the screen with the Weyland Industries logo.

What is the significance of this date? As we all know Ridley Scott and the cast were very secretive about just what ‘Prometheus’ was about from the start and even the internet snoops didn’t know just how it was going to end and tie things together. And upon seeing it (I wont give my review…but I thought it was very smart and great) you understand why Ridley Scott kept saying “strands of DNA” the whole time. But once this flashed across after the credits people were left wondering “What is 10.11.12?” being that this is about four months from now. Is it more viral campaigning? Are they pushing forward with a sequel already based on international numbers and very impressive midnight showings?

Only time will tell. But there is a website and the first piece to this next puzzle has been revealed:

So now we play the waiting game and lose our minds trying to figure out just what is the significance of 10.11.12.

‘Prometheus’ the Ridley Scott prequel to ‘Alien’ that isn’t a prequel has already started off strongly this weekend. Going head to head with ‘Snow White And The Huntsman’ the film is the biggest opening day for a Ridley Scott film ever in the UK.

We have had a superb start with Prometheus opening a clear No. 1 grossing £2.2m ($3.39M). This includes an estimated £200k ($306K) from special midnight screenings on Thursday,” the studio told Deadline.

The two x70mm IMAX locations in the UK (London and Manchester) reported sold out showings all day yesterday and even late night screenings were sold out in advance. ‘Prometheus’ has also broken records for advance IMAX screenings set by ‘Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows Part 2’ and ‘Avatar’. It could have performed even stronger in that department but most of the IMAX shows were only playing one evening performance on top of MIB3′ because Sony had a 2-week agreement with IMAX digital.

The movie opens here on Friday and I for one will be there at midnight on Thursday.