Prometheus is one of the most important entries in the Alien series, exploring the origins of both the Xenomorphs and humanity’s mysterious creators, the “Engineers.” In addition to this lore-building, however, Ridley Scott’s film is notable for verifying a further link between the Alien saga and Scott’s other sci-fi franchise, Blade Runner, in a remarkable way you’d likely not expect.
The connection between Alien and Blade Runner has long been established in both franchises, dating as far back as to Aliens, when Dallas was shown to have previously worked for the Tyrell Corporation. Nevertheless, Prometheus goes a step further by confirming not only a shared universe, but a close relationship between the founders of both the Tyrell Corporation and Weyland-Yutani.
A Prometheus Bonus Feature Reveals A Surprising Link Between Blade Runner And Weyland-Yutani
In the bonus features of Prometheus‘ Blu-ray disc, there is a text chain written by Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce)—founder of the British company that would eventually merge to form Weyland-Yutani—that details his relationship with Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel), the visionary behind the Tyrell Corporation’s line of Replicants and ideator of the false, implanted memories that drive these bioengineered humanoids.
The Alien–Blade Runner universe is also connected to Kurt Russell’s 1998 film Soldier.
In the text chain, Weyland—circa 2090, long after Tyrell’s death—recounts how his “mentor and long-departed compeтιтor” once invited him to join forces so they could “take over the world and become the new Gods.” Far from a loving reminiscence, Weyland expresses contempt for Tyrell’s unoriginality, observing how the Biblically-appropriated vision “literally blew up in the old man’s face.”
Weyland’s sardonic reflection is fraught with dramatic irony, particularly when one recalls how the CEO met his demise through the very same god complex after probing the Engineers for the secret to immortality—a desire their species views as anathema. Nevertheless, the pair’s shared arrogance helps illustrate how the Alien–Blade Runner universe ultimately reached its dystopian, hyper-corporatized, and morally-bankrupt state.
What This Revelation Means For The Alien-Blade Runner Universe
The genius behind Prometheus‘ Easter egg lies not only in its mythic world-building, but in the ramifications it holds for the Alien–Blade Runner universe. Consider, for a moment, if Weyland did take Tyrell up on his offer: not only would Weyland-Yutani cease to exist, the combined might of a Tyrell-Weyland empire would weaponize Replicants and Synthetics to a level near-unimaginable.
According to Ron Cobb—one of the original designers on Alien—the name “Weyland-Yutani” came from the idea of automotive companies British Leyland and Toyota merging in the future.
No longer would the Alien–Blade Runner universe be a sharp commentary/biting reflection of our capitalistic society—it would be a futuristic, cult-of-personality dictatorship run by psychopathic God Emperors, a terrifying “What-if?” scenario that almost makes the Xenomorphs look comforting in contrast. Nevertheless, until Ridley Scott creates his Alien–Blade Runner alternate history series, this specter will remain but a perilous hypothetical.
