Iconic filmmaker who has vehemently trashed superhero movies reveals issues with Disney-Fox merger

With a host of extremely well-known films to his credit, director Ridley Scott is one of the most prolific filmmakers working today. Tubes like Extraterrestrial (1979) and The Martian (2015), Scott’s last — The last duel (2021) and Gucci House (2021) – fell in the second half of last year.

A strong believer in traditional cinema, Scott has now opened up about how the Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox, now 20th Century Studios, impacted his relationship with his studio and the type of project Disney wanted from him.

Over the years, Disney has continued to expand its entertainment dominance. Not only the home of family movies and animated classics, the House of Mouse over the past two decades has acquired Marvel Studios, led by Kevin Feige, and Lucasfilm – home to star wars and the galaxy, far, far away. Then, in 2019, Disney took over ownership of 21st Century Fox and thus the film division of 20th Century Fox, renaming the company 20th Century Studios. For films produced by 20th Century Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributes and markets them.

This brings us back to Ridley Scott who, since 1979, has made 9 feature films for 20th Century Fox. These include Extraterrestrial, kingdom of paradise (2005), A good year (2006), Prometheus (2012), The counselor (2013), Exodus: gods and kings (2014), The Martian (2015), Alien: Alliance (2017), and The last duel. The latter saw star wars Sequel star Adam Driver appears alongside Matt Damon and Jodie Comer as Jacques Le Gris, Sir Jean De Carrouges and Marguerite de Carrouges, respectively.

Apparently, Scott is hailed as one of the world’s most gifted filmmakers – he did, after all, score three Academy Award nominations for Best Director (Thelma and Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down) – but speaks more and more about the habits of cinema and the nature of original stories in cinema. Last year, the famed director blasted superhero movies in a verbal assault on the genre, though Scott has helmed his own version of “superhero” movies such as Extraterrestrial and blade runner (1982), which starred Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley) and Harrison Ford (Rick Deckard), respectively, in defining roles.

Scott again denounced the markedly poor box office performance of The last duel, slamming “Millennials” as the reason for the film’s failed theatrical release. Now the Gucci House – who boasted a stellar cast including Lady Gaga (Patrizia Reggiani) and Adam Driver (Maurizio Gucci) – the director has commented on the Disney-Fox merger and why he didn’t direct what the Mouse House wanted when it ‘arrived.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scott had this to say about the types of projects he chooses:

When it comes to choosing projects, Scott says, “I feel like a kid in a park with lots of toys, and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty, red and shiny . I’ll go. “

He adds:

“The older I get, the more I look for things that are about something, aren’t just entertainment […] It must have an effect on someone.

The Hollywood Reporter goes on to state what Disney had hopefully wanted Scott on board:

When Disney bought Fox, his home studio for years, he said, “They wanted me to make a wizarding movie, and I don’t make wizarding movies. It wasn’t a good idea.

There were rumors in 2018 that Scott may have been attached to a Merlin film based on the “Merlin Saga” novels by TA Barron. As Gizmodo reported:

Variety reports that [Ridley] Scott is in talks to direct Merlin Saga, based on the TA Barron novels. The film chronicles the origin of the legendary wizard who would go on to advise King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

the Merlin Saga The movie is most likely what Scott is referring to here when he talks about “wizard movies.” It seems unlikely that the director will helm anything directly for Disney, but strange things have happened in Hollywood.

The next step for Scott will be haversack for Apple TV+, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte and Vanessa Kirby as Empress Josephine. Kirby took over the role after Jodie Comer left the project due to scheduling issues.

What do you think of Scott’s comments? Let us know in the comments below!