Ridley Scott Says ‘I’m Not a Filmmaker, I’m an Influencer’

Home Film News Aug 23, 2026 11:20am PT Ridley Scott Says ‘I’m Not a Filmmaker, I’m an Influencer’ By Jack Dunn Plus Icon Jack Dunn Latest Taylor Sheridan Accused of Stealing ‘Yellowstone’ From 2016 Pitch in Copyright Lawsuit 22 hours ago Mark Ruffalo Fires Back After Paramount Slammed His Merger Attack as ‘Antisemitic’: ‘Appalling and Fundamentally Dishonest’ 23 hours ago ‘National Treasure 3’ Is ‘Happening,’ Says Franchise Director Jon Turteltaub 1 day ago See All Getty Ridley Scott recently told The Times of London that he sees himself not as a “filmmaker,” but as an “influencer.” “Every time, you are vulnerable,” Scott said when asked to identify a through line in his work. “Also, 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 filmmaker, I’m an influencer.” Scott, a three-time Oscar-nominated director, has certainly flexed his influence throughout his years in Hollywood with immortal classics like “Blade Runner,” “Alien,” “Thelma & Louise,” and “Gladiator.” Earlier in the sit-down, he noted there are things he has yet to cross off his career checklist. Popular on Variety “I’ve never done a Western,” he said. “I have cast Hugh Jackman for my ‘Treasure Island’ adaptation. I want to do a musical and, also, have a marvelous film about the African elephant.” Scott’s next film is “The Dog Stars” with Jacob Elordi, Margaret Qualley and Josh Brolin. He deemed his leading man Elordi “a big star” and said they “got on great.” He went on to imply that the reason he directed “The Dog Stars” was because he sensed tedious sameness in the type of stories coming out of Hollywood. “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 said. “Fuck me! There have to be other stories to tell.” Scott will soon receive an honorary Oscar at November’s Governors Awards. Other recipients include Glenn Close and Disney’s first Black animator, Floyd Norman. Read More About: Jacob Elordi, Ridley Scott, The Dog Stars Jump to Comments More from Variety Black Women Earned Record Emmy Directing Noms as Asian Auteurs Made Gains. Will Wins Follow? Can Jean Smart Become the First Woman in Emmy History to Sweep Every Season of Her Series? Matt Cherniss on Apple TV’s Impressive Emmys Batting Average, and When ‘Widow’s Bay,’ ‘Pluribus’ and ‘Severance’ Might Return Emmy Noms Analysis: Diversity in Acting Nominees Down 39% While ‘The Pitt’ Cements Frontrunner Status and ‘Widow’s Bay’ Emerges as Dark Horse Dale Dickey on Her First Emmy Nomination for ‘Widow’s Bay’ and the Monologue That Made Her Say, ‘What the F—‘ Kate O’Flynn on Her ‘Widow’s Bay’ Breakout, Mike Leigh’s Final Film and Her Emmy Nomination: ‘I Felt Like an Ostrich’ Loading comments...