Get ready for a ton of Alien prequel talk as Director Ridley Scott is beginning to do press for his forthcoming Robin Hood. With Sherwood forest a thing of the past, Scott can now focus his energy on telling the earlier story of Alien, and how Ripley ended up with the worst life I can possibly imagine. MTV caught up with Scott – who also directed the original groundbreaking 1979 film – who revealed a TON of information about the forthcoming prequel. Read on for the skinny and report back on what you guys think. Are they going to f*ck this up?
Kicking off this massive conversation, Ridley Scott explains the status of the Alien prequel.

“As we speak, I’ve got a pile of pages next to me; it’s like the fourth draft,” he tells MTV. “It’s a work in progress, but we’re not dreaming it up anymore. We know what the story is. We’re now actually trying to improve the three acts and make the characters better, build it up to something [we can shoot]. It’s a work in progress, but we’re actually making the film. There’s no question about it, we’re going to make the film.”

Continuing on about the plot, Ridley reveals that it’s set in 2085 (the past) and that Weyland is still around attempting to get man to settle on other planets.

“It’s set in 2085, about 30 years before Sigourney [Weaver’s character Ellen Ripley]. It’s fundamentally about going out to find out ‘Who the hell was that Space Jockey?’ The guy who was sitting in the chair in the alien vehicle — there was a giant fellow sitting in a seat on what looked to be either a piece of technology or an astronomer’s chair. Remember that?”

He continues, “And our man [Tom Skerritt as Captain Dallas] climbs up and says “There’s been an explosion in his chest from the inside out — what was that?” I’m basically explaining who that Space Jockey — we call him the Space Jockey — I’m explaining who the space jockeys were.

“It’s Weyland. Weyland hasn’t joined Yutani yet, so they go and see Weyland. [The film] is about the discussion of terraforming — taking planets and planetoids and balls of earth and trying to terraform, seed them with the possibilities of future life.”

MTV asks the silly question about if Sigourney Weaver will take part to which Scott replies, “It will be before she was born!” Hello, McFly!

But he does reveal that the lead will once again be strong female character. “The main character [in the prequel] will be a woman, yeah. We’re thinking it could go down that route, yeah. When I started the original “Alien,” Ripley wasn’t a woman, it was a guy. During casting, we thought, “Why don’t we make it a woman?” ”

Something I found really interesting was what Scott said about the design of the Alien creature. Apparently, he’ll be thinking backwards.

“Yeah, the thing about “Alien vs. Predator” is, I know it’s commerce, but what a pity. I think, therefore, I have to design — or redesign — earlier versions of what these elements are that led to the thing you finally see in “Alien,” which is the thing that catapults out of the egg, the face-hugger.”

Even better, Scott may reteam with original designer (and mad genius) H.R. Giger.

“Yeah, he’s (Giger) still around. Once I get more serious and get going, and the big wheels start turning, we’ll certainly talk. And maybe we’ll come up with something completely different.”

So when will we see this puppy?

“We’re hoping to have it in theaters in late 2011, or maybe the best date in 2012.”

My sole concern is that it’s a 20th Century Fox film. I pray to the heavens that it’s a negative pick-up and that Scott and company have total control over the product — otherwise I predict imminent doom for the franchise.