Ridley Scott talks Prometheus Extended Cut

Prometheus is easily one of the most talked about movies this year. It's rare to see most news sites and blogs still debating and dissecting a movie the week after release and it is interesting to see how polarizing this movie is. Even those that love it can admit that there are some plot and/or pacing issues, but as mentioned in our review, we feel like many of these problems were due to editing.

The version of Prometheus that is running in theaters is 2 hours and 3 minutes, but Ridley Scott revealed that we may see an extended cut during a recent interview. While he mentions that he's happy with the current cut, he also talks about the business side of things and knowing that he needs to fill seats in order for the movie to be successful:

Via Collider: "SCOTT: This [Theatrical Version] 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."

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."

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

"SCOTT: Twenty minutes."

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."