Ridley Scott Says He is Partly to Blame for Bad ‘Alien’ Movies and ‘Prometheus’

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As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours analyzing and dissecting the intricacies of various cinematic universes, I can’t help but feel a peculiar sense of kinship with the enigmatic Ridley Scott. His candid confessions about the ups and downs of the Alien franchise resonate deeply within me, as I too have watched in despair as some of my favorite franchises have veered off course.

Known for his unreserved criticism when something displeases him or could be improved, this individual doesn’t shy away from critiquing even his own flaws within the franchise. In an interview with Deadline, the director openly acknowledged and took partial blame for the shortcomings experienced by the 45-year-old sci-fi horror saga.

In 1979, Scott crafted a groundbreaking sci-fi work with Alien, a chilling horror film that eschewed excessive action and gore in favor of creating a suspenseful and indelible cinematic journey. Yet, when the sequel titled Aliens was unveiled in 1986, it was James Cameron at the helm, and the movie he produced bore little resemblance to Scott’s taut, confined original. In an interview, Scott reminisced about this period, stating that following Aliens, things started to take a turn for the worse. He recounted:

Jim’s sequel was excellent, but the third and fourth installments grew increasingly challenging. As the story progressed, I found myself thinking, “Oh dear, they seem to be messing it up.” Eventually, I conceded, “Well, I guess that’s it then.

Ridley Scott Had Hoped To Revive Alien With Prometheus

Back when we were all eagerly awaiting more Alien adventures, several sequels that followed Aliens didn’t quite capture the magic of the first two films for many of us fans. New versions of the Xenomorph popped up, and the franchise even teamed up with another iconic sci-fi series, Predator, for a couple of films that left audiences divided. Then, fifteen years after Alien: Resurrection seemed to bring the main Alien saga to an end, Ridley Scott astoundingly returned to direct Prometheus – a prequel to his original 1979 masterpiece.

Surprisingly, the link to the Alien series was initially kept secret, but once it was disclosed, it sparked a divided reaction among fans. Scott attempted to bring Prometheus and Alien closer together with Alien: Covenant, yet again, the feedback didn’t meet expectations, leaving an incomplete planned prequel trilogy. In retrospect, Scott partly attributes this outcome to his own oversight for allowing the franchise to stray too far from his watchful eye. He admitted:

Many years passed, and I found myself watching a gruesome movie that seems to be constantly replayed all around the world, on every available platform. Surprisingly, there was still life in this creation. This is why I collaborated with the renowned writer Damon Lindelof, and we reimagined a revival of its origins, involving Prometheus and tracing its development from Alien. However, we were not vigilant enough about our work. My advisors, who are no longer with me, were equally negligent. I can’t help but feel partly responsible, but at the same time, I was preoccupied with other film projects. As a result, it was released without proper attention, and it should not have been. When you attempt to resurrect something, you must ensure it is securely fastened.

Contrary to fan assumptions that the Alien franchise had wrapped up following Disney’s acquisition of Fox, who held the intellectual property rights, this year’s Alien: Romulus has proven to be one of the most successful films in the series, both in terms of box office earnings and critical acclaim. Upcoming for the franchise is Noah Hawley’s television series, Alien: Earth, set to debut on small screens in 2025. This series is expected to break new ground as the first Alien movie to be filmed on Earth, carrying high expectations with it.

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2024-11-15 16:02