Ridley Scott Regrets Missing Out on Original Alien Sequels

Director Ridley Scott recently disclosed that he was never asked to direct the original sequels to his 1979 horror classic, Alien, which led to other directors taking the helm for those films. Scott expressed his dissatisfaction, saying that had he been given the choice, he would have directed the sequels. Additionally, he lamented his decision to direct Alien: Covenant over the Blade Runner sequel, which he later regretted. Despite these missed opportunities, Scott remains actively involved in both franchises. He is executive producing Blade Runner 2099 and Alien: Romulus. Scott is also directing the much-anticipated sequel to Gladiator, set to release on November 22.

Ridley Scott was not asked to direct the sequels to Alien because, at the time, he didn't have the option or choice presented to him, as he claimed nobody approached him about expanding the Alien franchise.

Ridley Scott's Alien, released in 1979, revolutionized the horror sci-fi genre with its atmospheric tension and groundbreaking designs by H.R. Giger. Following this, James Cameron directed the successful sequel, Aliens, in 1986, offering a more action-packed continuation of the story. David Fincher and Jean-Pierre Jeunet directed the subsequent sequels, each bringing their unique style to the evolving franchise. Scott later returned to the Alien universe with Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), prequels exploring the origins of the xenomorphs and expanding the lore of the series.