Summary
Ridley Scotthas opened up about losing control of both theAlienandBlade Runnerfranchises, explaining his regrets about not being able to direct the sequels to both movies. The director’s classic sci-fi films helped spawn two franchises, both of which have seen relative success as they have expanded over time. However,many of theAlienmoviesthat followed the original have not been directed by Scott, while the sequel to the latter,Blade Runner 2049, was spearheaded byDunedirector Denis Villeneuve.
Speaking withVanity Fair,Scott opened up about losing control of theAlienandBlade Runnerfranchises, including his regrets about not directing the initial sequels to both of his films. The director explained how, given how new he was to Hollywood when he made both movies, it was inevitable he wouldn’t have control over where their sequels went. Check out what Scott had to say about the lack of creative control below:
I was slow out the starting gate. I mean, I should have done the sequels to Alien and to Blade Runner. You change over the years. At that time, I didn’t want to go through it again. So Jim Cameron came in—and then David Fincher—on Alien. I was regretful [I didn’t do Blade Runner 2049], although [Denis Villeneuve] did a good job.
I’m the author of two franchises. Most directors in Hollywood—certainly, let’s say, at my level—don’t let that stuff go. 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.’ I was never told or asked. You can imagine I wasn’t happy.
Both Franchises Continue To Have Success Under Different Filmmakers
During the interview,Scott also explained how he wanted to ensure theforthcomingGladiator IIwas still made by him, despite often not coming back to make sequels for his movies. This isn’t the only time he’s made a follow-up to one of his more popular films, though, withPrometheusandAlien: Covenantserving as prequels to theAlienfranchise he started in 1979. However, the filmmaker clearly has regrets about not following through with expanding the universes of his much-beloved sci-fi classics.
Had Scott been able to pursue sequels to either of his most popular franchises, they likely would have turned out much different from what they became. James Cameron’sAliensskewed more toward being an action movie, a drastic change to the series the original director may not have embraced at the time. Instead, the sequel would likely continue relying on methodical horror elements. As forBlade Runner, the introspective nature of Villeneuve’s sequel would likely still be in the original director’s vision, albeit with some changes to how it was presented.
Alien & Blade Runner’s Shared Universe Was Secretly Confirmed in The 1990s
Many fans already think that Blade Runner and Alien exist within the same continuity, and one Alien vs Predator comic may have actually confirmed it.
Although theAlienandBlade Runnerfranchises became successful partially thanks to the direction of their sequels, seeingScott’s vision for how either universe would develop would have been interesting. Thankfully, his creative control overGladiator IImeans the historical fiction film can get a proper follow-up from the director in charge of the original. Although seeing his sequels to the other franchise would have been intriguing, it seems he still has creative control over the movies he made when he became an established director.
Scott himself has directed a sequel to a franchise he didn’t create withHannibal, a sequel toThe Silence of the Lambs.
Alien
Cast
Alien is a sci-fi horror-thriller by director Ridley Scott that follows the crew of a spaceship known as theNostromo.After the staff of the merchant’s vessel perceives an unknown transmission as a distress call, its landing on the source moon finds one of the crew members attacked by a mysterious lifeform, and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.
Blade Runner
The original Blade Runner is a sci-fi neo-noir film set in 2019 in a dystopian cyber-punk society. Harrison Ford stars as Rick Deckard as a Blade Runner for the LAPD, tasked with hunting rogue replicants, genetically engineered humans designed to tackle tasks that human beings cannot. When four replicants go rogue and begin killing humans, Deckard is forced out of retirement to hunt them down and stop them - but the truth isn’t as simple as it seems. Deckard will have to reckon with the philosophical dilemma of what makes someone human.
