“I shouldn’t have had to make that decision”: When Ridley Scott said he regretted not directing Blade Runner 2049

Ridley Scott, the director of the 1982 sci-fi classic film Blade Runner, pondered about his choice to back away from directing its 2017 sequel, Blade Runner 2049. During an interview with Empire in 2023, Ridley Scott stated that his decision to give priority to his film Alien: Covenant over the extremely-awaited sequel to Blade Runner continues to be one of his biggest professional regrets.

“I shouldn’t have had to make that decision…. but I had to. I should have done Blade Runner 2.”

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Scott’s regrets and the success of Blade Runner 2049

Ridley Scott’s exit from the Blade Runner 2049 team was due to the scheduling issues caused by Alien: Covenant, a prequel to his Alien franchise. In 2023, he told Empire that he regretted the decision.

“I should have done Blade Runner 2.”

Even though Scott did not direct the sequel to Blade Runner, he was associated with the project as an executive producer, with Denis Villeneuve stepping in to direct the sequel.

Blade Runner 2049 starred Ryan Gosling (Barbie) and Harrison Ford (Captain America: Brave New World). The film obtained critical praise, attaining Oscar Awards for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing, and Best Cinematography.

However, it underperformed at the box office, earning less than $100 million domestically compared to the alleged $300 million production and promotional budget.

Villeneuve, while being on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2021, talked about the difficulties and various other challenges that he faced while directing the film. He also talked about how he felt the need to respect Ridley Scott’s previously done work. He said:

“I knew that when I did this movie, I flirted with disaster…I put myself into massive artistic danger... That was walking on sacred territory…With Blade Runner, I had to be respectful of Ridley Scott’s work. It was more an act of love.”

Despite its struggles at the box office, Blade Runner 2049 has been admired for its narrative technique, visual effects, and depth, strengthening its legacy as a modern science-fiction classic film.

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Scott’s continued connection to the Blade Runner universe

While Ridley Scott may not have directed Blade Runner 2049, he has managed to stay an associate with the franchise he curated.

Scott is on the production team for an upcoming Prime Video limited series titled Blade Runner 2099. The series is reportedly set decades after the events of the previous two films. It will have a run of 10 episodes.

In the 2023 interview with Empire, Scott also conveyed his excitement for going back to the franchise but this time through a newer small-screen medium.

Since then, Scott has worked on Gladiator 2, starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Barry Keoghan.

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Ridley Scott’s statement emphasizes the difficulties faced by filmmakers while trying to balance different creative prospects and professional responsibilities. However, his lasting commitment to the Blade Runner franchise is reflected in his decision to helm Blade Runner 2099.