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Those of you looking forward to Ridley Scott's return to space with his currently in development Alien prequel, prepare for some hefty disappointment.

According to Script Flags, Scott is at odds with 20th Century Fox, the major studios behind the project over budgetary and creative differences. 
It would seem Scott wants a budget of around $250m to make it a sci-fi spectacular, and is also pushing for an 18-rated level of violence and horror. Fox, however, don't plan on investing anywhere near that sum, and are keen to get a 13/15 rating to maximize the audience appeal.

Can they hammer out a deal? Keep your fingers crossed.

In other news, Swedish actress Noomi Rapace (the original Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) is a hot commodity in Hollywood these days, reportedly taking meetings around town on projects including McG's This Means War and Mission: Impossible IV. (She was recently cast as the female lead in Sherlock Holmes 2.)

But now comes word that Rapace might be under consideration for the female lead in Fox's Alien prequel.

Scriptflags claims Rapace has met with prequel director Ridley Scott and his Scott Free production company exec Michael Costigan, where the Swedish actress is said to have professed her love for Scott's films growing up. The site speculates that they met with Rapace for the female lead in the Alien prequel, sure to be a tough chick role not unlike the one she's gained international fame for.

But considering the crowded development slate Scott keeps, who knows? It could just as easily have been a meet-and-greet for any of his movies.