But at 88 years old, the legendary director is rejecting the traditional title attached to his multi-decade career. Speaking to The Sunday Times Culture magazine, Scott claimed he considers himself something far more modern.
“I never want to repeat myself and all my films have been on the money. I’ve been ahead of the game frequently and, if you’re ahead of the game, you’re an influencer. So, I’m not a film-maker, I’m an influencer.”
Setting Trends While Slamming Modern Tropes
Scott’s playful redefinition of his title stems from his ongoing frustration with Hollywood’s current creative stagnation. In the same sit-down, the director held nothing back when assessing the state of mainstream storytelling, arguing that modern films have fallen into lazy, predictable traps.
“Look, everything now is about a murdered girl in the woods or an FBI agent who is better than anyone else – or a superhero,” Scott lamented. “F me! There have to be other stories to tell.”*
What’s Next for Cinema’s Ultimate “Influencer”?
Refusing to slow down, Scott continues a relentless work ethic. While preparing for his upcoming post-apocalyptic pandemic thriller The Dog Stars (starring Jacob Elordi), he teased an eclectic slate of bucket-list genres he plans to tackle next:
- A Classic Western: A genre the British auteur has surprisingly never directed across his 40-plus year career.
- Treasure Island: A high-seas adaptation with Hugh Jackman officially cast to star.
- A Feature Musical: Stepping into full-fledged song and dance for the first time.
- An African Elephant Drama: A sweeping project centered on nature’s gentle giants.
Whether establishing the visual blueprint for science fiction back in 1979 or refusing to compromise on original storytelling today, Ridley Scott’s self-proclaimed status as an “influencer” is hard to argue with—he’s still dictating where the medium goes next.