Ridley Scott Says He's Turned Down Multiple Superhero Offers and That His Stories Are “Better"

Ridley Scott is sticking to his own stories. No MCU for him. In the last few years, he’s had the creative freedom to direct practically whatever he chooses.

In an interview with Deadline, Scott shared his thoughts on superhero movies, saying he isn't a "superhero fan," but that “there’s a couple of good Batmans,” and Richard Donner's Superman.

Scott was asked if he had ever been offered a superhero movie, and he confirmed that he’s had “multiple offers,” and that his stories are "better."

Yeah, been offered, but just said, no, thank you. Not for me. I’ve done two or three superhero films. I think Sigourney Weaver’s a superhero in Aliens. I think Russell Crowe‘s a superhero in Gladiator. And Harrison Ford is the super anti-hero in Blade Runner. The difference is, the f*cking stories are better.

He also calls the phenomenon an “idolization of the superheroes, which really is just a comic strip extension.” Adding, “it’s very difficult to write a comic-strip story and carry it out successfully on film.”

Back in November 2021, via Deadline, Scott said superhero movies were “boring as fucking shit.”

Almost always, the best films are driven by the characters, and we’ll come to superheroes after this if you want, because I’ll crush it. I’ll fucking crush it. They’re fucking boring as shit .. Their scripts are not any fucking good … They’re superhero movies. So, why don’t the superhero movies have better stories? Sorry. I got off the rail, but I mean, c’mon. They’re mostly saved by special effects, and that’s becoming boring for everyone who works with special effects, if you’ve got the money.

Of course, Scott has been a hit and miss director his entire career, but he always comes out swinging. There’s always a gem or two to be found in the mediocrity, more recently I can think of 2021’s underrated “The Last Duel” as a film that deserved a better fate.