MOVIE NEWS – Years later, renowned director Ridley Scott has openly shared how painful it was for him when the studio handed over the Alien sequel to James Cameron. In a recent interview, Scott candidly discusses the impact of this decision on him and his career, shedding new light on the workings of the film industry and the complexities of creative processes.

Throughout his career, Ridley Scott has worked on a multitude of films, often returning to costume adventures and sci-fi genres. His most defining work, the 1979 Alien, or The Eighth Passenger: Death, has become a sci-fi horror classic, turning Sigourney Weaver and her character Ellen Ripley into cinematic icons. However, the sequel released seven years later, The Planet’s Name: Death (Aliens), was handed over by 20th Century Fox to James Cameron, and Scott recently admitted in an interview related to Napoleon that he is still irked by this decision.

In the interview conducted by Deadline with the director, Alien was naturally a topic of discussion, as was Stanley Kubrick’s reaction to the terrifying emergence of the xenomorph from John Hurt’s body. The reporter also inquired about Scott’s thoughts on the sequel and the fact that he didn’t get to direct it, as well as the film’s different tone. Scott explained, ‘It’s because of Jim: his composing style makes the entire process a Big Rush. When I first heard that someone else would direct the sequel, I tried to come up with something myself. When Jim called me […], he was very kind, but he said it would be tough to recreate the same level of terror […]. That’s why he decided to make the story more action-packed, like a military tale.’ Scott added, reflecting for the first time, ‘Welcome to Hollywood!’

The reporter inquired about the relationship between the two directors and how Scott felt after hanging up the phone, knowing he wouldn’t direct the Alien sequel. Scott replied, ‘Jim and I talk frequently. I wouldn’t say we are friends, but we have good discussions, he’s a great guy. […] After the call, however, I was really upset. I didn’t tell Jim, but I believe it hurt me a lot. I was aware that I had created something special. I felt deeply offended, especially after the Blade Runner case, which I also thought was something quite special, but the test screenings were disastrous. The director’s cut was boxed up for about 10-12 years until it was accidentally rediscovered at the Santa Monica Film Festival. Someone suggested we pull out the old material and screen it for fun.’ – Scott continued, narrating the triumphant rise of Blade Runner.

“Today, both Alien films are considered classics, highly cherished by fans, unlike Alien Covenant, which I directed again. Soon, Alien – Romulus is coming, starring Cailee Spaeny, directed by Fede Álvarez, set to premiere on August 15, 2024, in cinemas.”