Prometheus May Be Watered Down For A PG-13 Rating
This article is more than 2 years old
Prometheus is one of the most anticipated films of the year, but those of us expecting it to pull no punches when it comes to gore or horror may need to prepare for disappointment. Speaking to Empire Online, director Ridley Scott has revealed that the violence may have been toned down a bit in order to land a PG-13 rating.
Scott laid out the conundrum facing the film when it comes to ratings: “The question is, do you go for the PG-13, [which] financially makes quite a difference, or do you go for what it should be, which is R? Essentially, it’s kinda R.” For those of you already clenching your teeth, don’t rush too much to judgment just yet. Scott continued, saying, “It’s not just about the blood, it’s about ideas that are very stressful. I’m not an idiot, but I’ll do everything I can to get the most aggressive film I can.” That’s a fair point. While the chestburster sequence in the original Alien was unforgettable, it wasn’t necessarily the scariest. Most of that film’s most intense moments came without a hint of gore, so PG-13 rating isn’t necessarily a crippling blow. Would everyone except for studio accountants prefer an R rating? Sure, but I’m willing to give Scott the benefit of the doubt.
The director also talked more about the infamous “Space Jockey,” and why it seems to be central to Prometheus‘ storyline. It turns out, it’s a story Scott has wanted to tell for a long time.
I always wondered when they did [Aliens] 2, 3 and 4 why they hadn’t touched upon that, instead of evolving into some other fantastic story. They missed the biggest question of them all: who’s the big guy? And where were they going? And with what? Why that cargo? There’s all kinds of questions.
Prometheus will — hopefully — provide some answers to those questions when it opens in theaters on June 1st.
