British filmmaker Ridley Scott recently opened up about his real feelings after James Cameron took over the sequel to his iconic movie Alien. In a candid interview with Deadline, Scott shared his disappointment and sense of hurt upon learning that another director would be helming the follow-up film, titled Aliens, which was released in 1986.
Scott revealed that he had been working on developing something for the sequel when he found out about Cameron’s involvement. He described his first conversation with Cameron, recalling that the renowned director acknowledged the challenge of recreating the fear factor of the original Alien. Cameron explained that he planned to take a more action-oriented, military approach to the film. Although Scott understood the reasoning behind this decision, it still left him feeling frustrated and hurt.
The acclaimed filmmaker admitted that he took Cameron’s involvement as a blow, saying, I was pissed. I wouldn’t tell that to Jim, but I think I was hurt. Scott believed that Alien was a unique beast and creating the same level of fear again would be a daunting task. He considered himself damaged goods at the time, having previously faced disappointment with the release of his film Blade Runner. Originally, Scott had high hopes for Blade Runner, only for it to receive negative feedback during test screenings. As a result, his preferred version of the movie was shelved for nearly a decade before it was accidentally discovered at a film festival.
To regain his confidence, Scott engaged in physical activities such as pushups and tennis, while also focusing on his next project. During this period, he directed the fantasy film Legend starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and Tim Curry.
Despite the initial disappointment, Scott clarified that there is no animosity between him and Cameron. In fact, the two directors maintain contact and engage in conversations. Scott described Cameron as a great guy, signifying that any past resentment has been put to rest.
Scott’s revelation sheds light on the complexity and competitiveness of the film industry, where creative visions and personal emotions often collide. While Scott felt hurt by the decision to pass the sequel’s directorial duties to another filmmaker, he eventually found redemption in his subsequent projects. With a career spanning several decades and a portfolio of critically acclaimed films, Scott’s resilience and artistic perseverance serve as an inspiration to aspiring filmmakers worldwide.
