Science fiction mastermind Ridley Scott, the visionary director behind Alien and Blade Runner, recently opened up about his experience with these iconic franchises. While both films spawned successful sequels, Scott himself wasn’t always at the helm. In an interview, Scott revealed he was never informed or asked about these sequels.
Ridley Scott’s Regrets Over Alien and Blade Runner Sequels
Alien (1979). Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Ridley Scott shared that he was never approached to direct the sequels to Alien and Blade Runner. At the time, Scott was an emerging filmmaker, which he believes led to his exclusion from the sequels’ development.
“I was slow out the starting gate,” Scott explained. “I mean, I should have done the sequels to ‘Alien’ and to ‘Blade Runner.’” Consequently, directors James Cameron and Denis Villeneuve took over, with Scott admitting that his reluctance to revisit these films early in his career was a missed opportunity.
“I’m the author of two franchises. Most directors in Hollywood — certainly, let’s say, at my level — don’t let that stuff go,” he told Vanity Fair. “But I did Alien as my second movie, so I didn’t have much choice. And Blade Runner was my third movie. So, I had no choice because I had very tough partners. It was kind of ‘Welcome to Hollywood.‘” He added, “I was never told or asked [about sequels]. You can imagine I wasn’t happy.“
Though Scott wasn’t involved in the sequels immediately following the original Alien, he later returned to direct Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017). Scott revealed his regret over not directing Blade Runner 2049, stating that he should have chosen it over the Alien prequel. “I shouldn’t have had to make that decision,” he earlier told Empire (Via Far Out Magazine). However, he acknowledged that Denis Villeneuve did a “good job” with Blade Runner 2049, which starred Ryan Gosling.
Ridley Scott’s Sci-Fi Sequels That Weren’t: A Glimpse into What Could Have Been
Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas in Blade Runner 2049 (2017). Image Credit: Stephen Vaughan/Alcon Entertainment, LLC.
Despite some missed opportunities, Ridley Scott remains deeply connected to his iconic franchises. He is currently the executive producer for Blade Runner 2099, a live-action series set fifty years after Denis Villeneuve’s film. Additionally, Scott is producing Alien: Romulus, a film directed by Fede Álvarez, which takes place between the original Alien and Aliens.
Had Scott been at the helm for the sequels to his renowned franchises, the outcomes might have been notably different. James Cameron’s Aliens transitioned into a more action-oriented film, a direction Scott might not have embraced. He likely would have maintained the methodical horror elements of the original. In the case of Blade Runner, while Villeneuve’s sequel was introspective, Scott’s version would have preserved this nature with some alterations in presentation.
The success of the Alien and Blade Runner franchises owes much to the directors who continued them. However, Scott’s vision for these universes would have offered a fascinating alternative development. Fortunately, Scott retains creative control over Gladiator 2, ensuring a faithful continuation of the historical fiction narrative he first brought to life.
In Gladiator 2, Scott returns to a world he shaped masterfully. Paul Mescal stars as Lucius Verus, the former heir to the Roman Empire. Fifteen years after the events of the first film, Lucius has forsaken his privileged life to become a gladiator, living in the wilderness away from his family for the past decade and a half.
The movie also sees the return of Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Lucius’ mother. Joining her are new cast members, including Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Derek Jacobi, Joseph Quinn from Stranger Things, and Fred Hechinger from The White Lotus.
The Gladiator sequel is currently slated for release in theaters on November 22, 2024.
