Prometheus writer won't be penning sequel

'Prometheus' screenwriter Damon Lindelof will not be writing the sequel, he has confirmed.

'Lost' co-creator Lindelof re-drafted a script from Jon Spaihts, but came under fire from fans of the original 'Alien' films, for which 'Prometheus' is an early prequel.

[Related story: Oscars 2013 - Best Visual Effects shortlist released]

“Much to the delight of all the fanboys, I don't see myself being involved in [the Prometheus sequel],” he told film site Collider.

Lindelof, who also wrote 'Cowboys & Aliens', cited scheduling issues with other projects as the reason for ruling himself out.

“I'm usually very single-minded creatively. I can only be working on one thing at a time. So I said to [director Ridley Scott], 'I really don't think I could start working on this movie until I do this other stuff, and I don't know when the other stuff is going to be done',” he said.

“He was like, 'Well, okay, it's not like I asked you anyways'. He and I are on excellent terms and it was a dream come true to work with him.”

Though the film was a financial success, making north of $400 million (£246 million) it was critically less well-received than the previous films – though not, perhaps, the derided 'Alien 3'.

Fans have also picked apart the film since its release, revealing a number of substantial plot holes and inconsistencies.

It's not yet known when a sequel will go into production, but it's thought that both Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender will reprise their roles as Dr. Shaw and the duplitious android David.

"From the very beginning, I was working from a premise that lent itself to a sequel," added Lindelof. "I'd love to explore where [character Dr. Shaw] goes next and what does she do when she gets there because if it is paradise, paradise can't be what you think it is."