Ridley Scott returns to sci-fi with "Prometheus"

Three decades after his last science fiction movie, award winning director Ridley Scott has gone back to the genre where he made his name with new thriller "Prometheus".

At the world premiere in London on Thursday, he explained the time was right to return to sci-fi:

SOUNDBITE: Director, Ridley Scott, saying (English):

"I missed it, I mean I really enjoyed doing those two and the way it got I just got really busy and I didn't have time. It was always in the back of my mind that there was an unanswered question from the first "Alien" that no one ever picked up, and I thought that's going to be it."

"Prometheus" began life as a prequel to Scott's most famous film "Alien", before becoming more than that and standing as a story in its own right.

As well as having Scott at the helm, the movie has an all star cast, including Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron.

SOUNDBITE: Actress, Charlize Theron, saying (English):

"Well when Ridley Scott calls you're just like why would you not do it, he is one of those filmmakers. I have always wanted to work with him, and especially in the genre, I feel like this is his baby, this is his thing, this is what he does really well."

Scott's latest big screen venture begins with a team of explorers discovering a clue to the origins of mankind.

They then board the ship Prometheus and find themselves confronted with a frightening world.

The movie opens in cinemas in the UK on June 1.

Edward Baran, Reuters