At 87, Ridley Scott has earned the right to speak his mind in the entertainment industry. The legendary director, whose career spans decades, recently sat down for an unfiltered interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Scott, who shows no signs of slowing down, discussed his plans to continue directing until his final days, his thoughts on fellow filmmakers, and his candid perspective on the movie business.
Reflecting on his own longevity in Hollywood, Scott cited Clint Eastwood, who remains active at 94, as inspiration. “I’m 86 now, so I’ve still got a few to go,” he said, expressing his intention to keep working as long as possible. The director also shared a memorable anecdote about Russell Crowe, whom he cast in Gladiator. When they first met, Crowe was concerned about his weight. “Russell talked about being overweight endlessly. I said, ‘I believe you’re going to be able to lose weight,’ and he did,” Scott recalled.
Scott’s thoughts on the entertainment industry were just as direct, particularly when it comes to people stepping outside of their established talents. “There’s nothing worse than an actor trying to be a rock star, and there’s nothing worse than a rock star trying to be an actor,” he quipped, underscoring his belief in staying true to one’s craft.
But it was his take on Quentin Tarantino’s retirement plans that stole the spotlight. Tarantino, 61, has made it clear that he intends to retire after completing his tenth film, a vow he’s reiterated since Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. However, Scott is skeptical about his fellow director’s decision.
“I don’t f—ing believe that bullsh–. Shut up and go make another movie,” Scott said dismissively. He also reminisced about his late brother, Tony Scott, and his work with Tarantino, who wrote the screenplay for True Romance and did rewrites on Crimson Tide. Despite their professional connection, Scott noted that he had never met Tarantino himself.
If Scott’s own career is any indication, Tarantino might not step away from filmmaking just yet. Known for his relentless passion for cinema, Scott shows no sign of retiring anytime soon — even after four large-scale films in the past three years. “If Tarantino is anything like me,” Scott mused, “he will not actually retire after his next film.”
Scott’s next project, Gladiator II, is set to hit theaters in the U.S. on November 22. With the possibility of securing him that elusive Best Director Oscar, Scott’s drive to create continues to burn brightly.
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