As the 87-year-old filmmaker Ridley Scott gears up for the release of the highly anticipated “Gladiator II,” the director’s wonderful bluntness is back on full display. In a series of recent interviews, the legendary director has offered his unfiltered take on a number of topics in the industry, as well as insights into his own storied career.
“I Don’t F—ing Believe That Bullsh*t”
Scott expressed his disbelief in Quentin Tarantino’s claims of retiring after his tenth directorial effort, stating, “I don’t believe that bullsh*t.” Shut up and go make another movie.” Scott revealed that Tarantino had collaborated with his late brother, director Tony Scott, on films like “True Romance” and “Crimson Tide.” “Quentin wrote a few things for my brother. They got along great. I’m not sure I’ve met him,” Scott said.
The fact that the 86-year-old Scott has no plans to slow down anytime soon likely contributes to his skepticism about Tarantino’s retirement plans. “Clint [Eastwood] is 94! I’m 86 now, so I’ve still got a few to go,” Scott declared.
Chasing Accolades, But Unfazed
Despite a storied career spanning five decades, Scott has never won a Best Director Oscar, a fact that seemingly doesn’t weigh too heavily on him. “Well, I’ve been knighted twice,” he said when asked about the lack of an Oscar.
“Only if somebody gets tricky and then I sign the note rudely [as ‘Sir Ridley Scott’],” the director added, noting that otherwise, he doesn’t actively use the title. “But, of course, I respect it.”
As for specific films of his that he feels deserved more recognition, Scott pointed to the opening shot of Los Angeles in “Blade Runner” as one of his proudest achievements, defiantly telling legendary critic Pauline Kael to “go f— yourself.”
He also expressed a desire to “resurrect” his 1992 historical epic “1492: Conquest of Paradise,” a collaboration with Gérard Depardieu. ** “The problem with Gérard is he doesn’t speak very good English, and I didn’t have the heart to say, ‘Gérard, we need to [re-record all your lines].’ I’m trying to resurrect 1492 because it’s so beautifully shot, acted, and scored. I’m trying to resurrect it as a four-hour [movie] for a streaming platform.”
Passion Over Paycheck
For Scott, directing is more than just a job. “It’s my passion and therefore my pleasure. I think it actually keeps me going,” he said, noting that he’s been able to maintain such a prolific output by “cutting away all the crap” and typically having no more than three or four projects in development at a time.
“I don’t think of it as work,” Scott added. “I’ve become proficient at eliminating unnecessary elements.” You can’t have 40 projects in development. That’s a terrible idea. I usually have three or four.”
This efficient approach has allowed Scott to forge a particularly strong relationship with 20th Century Fox (now Fox-Disney), for whom he’s directed 13 films—”which may be the highest any director would do for a studio.”
Looking Ahead
As for his upcoming projects, Scott is understandably excited about the release of “Gladiator II,” which is generating early buzz as a potential awards season contender that could finally earn the director his elusive Best Director Oscar. “It’s almost got everything you need for that,” Scott said of the sequel, which begins its international rollout next week before hitting U.S. cinemas on November 22nd.
And despite his advanced age, the director shows no signs of slowing down, with a Bee Gees biopic also on the horizon, as well as the anticipated TV adaptations of his iconic “Blade Runner” and “Alien” franchises. “When I go [makes croaking noise],” Scott quipped when asked about eventually retiring. “I mean, Clint Eastwood is 94! At 86 years old, I still have a few years left to live.
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