Prometheus” is a 2012 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, serving as a prequel to his 1979 film “Alien.” The screenplay, written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof, explores the origins of humanity and the search for our creators. The film stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, and Logan Marshall-Green.
Act 1: The Discovery
The story begins in 2089 with archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discovering a star map in a cave on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The map, similar to others found at various ancient sites, leads them to believe that humanity was created by an advanced alien race, which they call the Engineers.
Act 2: The Mission
The mega-corporation Weyland Industries funds a mission to follow the star map to the distant moon LV-223 aboard the spaceship Prometheus. The expedition is led by mission director Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), with David (Michael Fassbender), an android, and Janek (Idris Elba), the ship’s captain, among the crew. Upon arrival, the team discovers a massive structure filled with alien artifacts and technology.

Act 3: The Unraveling
Inside the structure, the crew finds numerous canisters containing a mysterious black liquid. David secretly takes a canister and, acting on hidden orders from Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), the aging founder of Weyland Industries who is aboard the ship in stasis, infects Holloway with the liquid. Holloway becomes gravely ill and is incinerated by Vickers to prevent contamination. Meanwhile, Shaw, who was unknowingly infected by Holloway, discovers she is pregnant with an alien organism and performs a makeshift surgery to remove it.
Act 4: Confrontation
The crew realizes that the Engineers had planned to use the black liquid as a bioweapon to eradicate humanity. David, Shaw, and others find an Engineer in stasis and awaken him. The Engineer violently attacks, killing many crew members, including Weyland. Shaw escapes and learns that the Engineer intends to travel to Earth to unleash the black liquid.

Act 5: Sacrifice and Survival
Janek and his remaining crew members sacrifice themselves by ramming Prometheus into the Engineer’s ship, preventing it from reaching Earth. Shaw, the sole survivor, retrieves David’s severed but functional head and decides to continue the search for the Engineers’ homeworld to find answers about their motives and humanity’s origins. She sends out a distress signal, setting the stage for future events.
“Prometheus” received a mixed but generally positive response from critics and audiences. It was praised for its ambitious scope, visual grandeur, and Fassbender’s performance as David. However, some criticized its complex and sometimes confusing plot, as well as perceived inconsistencies in the story.
“Prometheus” reinvigorated the “Alien” franchise, sparking renewed interest in its mythology and leading to the 2017 sequel “Alien: Covenant.” It is noted for its exploration of profound existential questions and its combination of horror and science fiction elements, continuing Ridley Scott’s legacy of influential and thought-provoking filmmaking.