Ridley Scott’s team opens up about “deeply frustrating” Raised By Wolves cancelation, Gladiator II and Alien sequel

Ridley Scott's team opens up about "deeply frustrating" Raised By Wolves cancelation, Gladiator II and Alien sequel

As a seasoned movie-goer who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless cinematic franchises, I must say that Ridley Scott’s latest endeavor leaves me both excited and slightly apprehensive. With his upcoming film, “Gladiator II,” set to premiere on November 22, one can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the days when a sequel was more than just an attempt to cash in on past successes.

As a cinephile, I must say that few contemporary filmmakers have had as impressive a trajectory as Ridley Scott, the imaginative director behind cinematic gems such as Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator, to name but a few. In the coming weeks, we’ll be treated to the 86-year-old director’s latest opus, Gladiator II – the sequel to his Academy Award-winning film from 2000, featuring the inimitable Russell Crowe. For nearly half a century, Scott has been spearheading his own production company, Scott Free, which collaborates with 20th Century Studios and other studios to bring captivating stories to life on the big screen. In anticipation of Gladiator II’s release, Scott and the team at Scott Free recently sat down for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where they discussed Scott’s illustrious career, including the eagerly awaited sequel, which he describes as “the pinnacle of my creative journey.”

Featuring Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, Paul Mescal, and Pedro Pascal, it appears that Gladiator II is set to become a grand cinematic event. The Roman Colosseum will be transformed to depict a sea battle by flooding it. If this idea doesn’t sound thrilling, unique, and something we can’t wait to witness on the big screen, I’m not sure what would!

In a surprising turn of events, it’s been reported that the budget for “Gladiator II” was approximately $250 million, a substantial amount for a movie of its scale. Remarkably, Ridley Scott was able to come in under this projected cost, saving around $10 million. As he shared with The Hollywood Reporter, “Gladiator is under budget.” While he didn’t elaborate on the methods, it’s safe to say that Scott’s extensive experience and expertise likely played a significant role in keeping production costs low and running smoothly.

Plans for Raised By Wolves season 3 were already in place when it was canceled

It’s clear that Scott and his team didn’t just discuss Gladiator II; they also delved into other major franchises, including Raised By Wolves – a fascinating, offbeat sci-fi series produced by Scott Free for Max. This show revolves around two androids attempting to rebuild the human race on Kepler-22b, a distant planet. Sadly, after running for two seasons on a streaming platform, Raised By Wolves was abruptly canceled in 2022, leaving fans hanging with an intriguing season finale.

Clayton Krueger, president of Scott Free TV, expressed his disappointment, stating, ‘It was truly discouraging for us. We had a great creative setup and were ready to launch. The season was broken, our team was assembled. We felt the show finally hit its stride,’

I completely agree with that; Raised By Wolves grew stronger with each episode, and I wished it could have gone on longer. A passionate fan movement tried to keep the series alive, but unfortunately, neither Max nor any other broadcaster were persuaded by our efforts.

It seems Scott takes a rather open-minded approach to his work. In his words, “TV is like a big net full of balls.” Occasionally, something special like “The Sopranos” and “Game of Thrones” emerges, captivating everyone. However, by the time people scramble to imitate it, the moment has already passed. This, he explains, is his method as a director: always focused on finding the next big thing.

Whatever that next ball is, I hope it fares better than Raised By Wolves.

Ridley Scott's team opens up about "deeply frustrating" Raised By Wolves cancelation, Gladiator II and Alien sequel

Ridley Scott is developing another Alien sequel — could we finally get a follow-up to Alien: Covenant?

During their conversation, Scott and his group touched upon his two renowned sci-fi productions, Alien and Blade Runner. Unlike other projects under his belt, these two have been a source of contention for Scott Free Productions, as they didn’t secure the rights to the franchises despite being instrumental in their creation. This means that whenever a new Alien or Blade Runner project emerges, Scott Free Productions must prove its relevance and involvement, as The Hollywood Reporter phrases it.

Ridley Scott expressed regret by stating, “I should have secured control, much like Steven Spielberg with ‘Jurassic’, and James Cameron with his projects, did.” He went on to say that he revitalized the ‘Alien’ franchise with ‘Prometheus’ and ‘Alien: Covenant’, but we failed to reclaim ownership at that point because someone was careless.

Regardless of any obstacles, it’s crucial for Scott Free to ensure the continued involvement of Ridley Scott in any upcoming “Alien” or “Blade Runner” films. As stated by Scott Free president and COO Justin Alvarado Brown, “It would be illogical for another movie to be made without Ridley and us.

It’s great news that 20th Century Studios appears open to the idea. The recently released Alien movie this year was titled Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez. This film surpassed expectations at the box office and garnered positive reviews. Ridley Scott played a significant role in its production, offering guidance and support to Álvarez. Scott hinted that he’s currently negotiating a deal for another Alien sequel with 20th Century Studios. However, he didn’t clarify whether this is the anticipated sequel to Alien: Covenant, potentially concluding Michael Fassbender’s character David’s storyline, or a sequel to Alien: Romulus with Álvarez, which we know is in development. In any case, it’s exciting to think about Ridley Scott contributing to future Alien films.

Currently, the next opportunity to witness Scott’s work on a large screen is the upcoming film “Gladiator II,” which is set to hit theaters on November 22.

2024-11-06 22:41