“I shouldn’t have had to make that decision”: Ridley Scott Regrets Leaving $267M Harrison Ford Sequel That Bombed for ‘Alien: Covenant’
Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece Blade Runner established a formidable standard for science fiction cinema, a benchmark that remains unattainable mainly even in the present day. With Harrison Ford in the protagonist’s role, the film garnered a box office revenue of $41.6 million. Although initially associated with the sequel, Scott revealed 2014 his decision to step away from directing the follow-up to Blade Runner. Instead, he opted to take the helm of the sci-fi horror creation Alien: Covenant, which featured a cast including Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, and Danny McBride.
The film achieved a prosperous box office performance but received varied feedback from viewers. Skipping ahead a few years, Alien Covenant has since become regarded as one of the finest science fiction and horror amalgamations in cinematic history. Even though Scott wasn’t at the helm for the sequel to the original Blade Runner, he assumed the role of an executive producer for the movie. Furthermore, he is making a return to the futuristic dystopian landscape with Amazon Prime Video’s forthcoming limited series, titled Blade Runner 2099.
Why Ridley Scott Had to Choose Between The Two Franchises?
In the year 2017, two movies, Blade Runner 2049 and Alien: Covenant, came out pretty close to each other, only about five months apart. This meant that Ridley Scott, who was involved in both movies, had to decide which one to work on. He ended up choosing Alien: Covenant. However, Ridley Scott has mentioned that he didn’t really like having to make this decision. He feels like he should have been able to work on both movies if he wanted to. He’s the one who originally made Blade Runner and Alien, but after that, he kind of stepped back and let other filmmakers take over these series.
Also Read: Stanley Kubrick Almost Made Joaquin Phoenix’s Napoleon Movie Years Ago
“I shouldn’t have had to make that decision. But I had to. I should have done ‘Blade Runner 2. We wanted to get this made…If you get it on paper, don’t wait. I had to let it go, which was a bit of a bugger but there we are.”
Scott extensively discussed the challenging decision he confronted during the mid-2010s. Both Alien: Covenant and Blade Runner 2049 were simultaneously in the early stages of planning, with Scott contributing to the development of both films. However, when the time came for production, a scheduling clash arose, compelling him to make a crucial selection. In an interview, Scott reflected that it might have been a good idea for him to direct Blade Runner 2049. Yet, considering his current commitments to projects like Napoleon and Gladiator 2, and witnessing the continued growth of the Blade Runner franchise, he finds so many reasons to lament the course of events.
Also Read: Gladiator 2 First Look Photos Reveal Massive Colosseum Set and More
Ridley Scott Reflects on Missed Opportunity of Blade Runner 2049
Initially appointed as the director for the Harrison Ford sequel, Blade Runner 2049 in 2011, Scott later had to step down. The sequel featured Harrison Ford’s return and introduced new cast members like Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Jared Leto, all under the guidance of Denis Villeneuve. However, Ridley Scott is now making a comeback to the dystopian franchise through an upcoming series titled Blade Runner 2099 produced by Amazon Studios. Scott has long been interested in revisiting the franchise, hinting at the possibility of exploring another story as far back as 2018. He mentioned,
“I think there is another story. I’ve got another one ready to evolve and be developed, so there is certainly one to be done for sure.”
Ridley Scott laments his decision to opt for Alien: Covenant over directing Blade Runner 2049. Scott’s choices have not always been flawless, as evidenced by the underwhelming performance of Alien: Covenant in 2017, which has caused a setback for the Alien franchise on the big screen. However, for most observers, it’s challenging to envision a superior version of Blade Runner 2049 than the one we experienced. The replacement director, Denis Villeneuve, scored a major success by skillfully blending mesmerizing visual effects, breathtaking camerawork, and an exceptional soundtrack.
Source: X
