Legendary director Ridley Scott has redefined his career title from filmmaker to influencer in a bold take on his legacy. It is hard to come by a director as visionary as Ridley Scott. He is credited with the inception of some of the highest-concept movies Hollywood has ever produced. And after all the years of ingenious filmmaking, Scott wants to be viewed as something no one would have thought of before.

Ridley Scott’s claim that he is an influencer rather than a filmmaker ahead of an Honorary Oscar has caused many to scratch their heads in bewilderment.

Ridley Scott recently stated to The Times of London that he considers himself an “influencer” rather than a “filmmaker.” This is a rather unexpected assertion from an icon like himself, who has blessed the world of cinema with Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, The Martian, and more. Perhaps the director is not using it in a sense that the audience of today is used to.

“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,” explained the director.

He has indeed been ahead of their time. His revolutionary visual worldbuilding, complex themes of artificial intelligence and gender, and fast-paced commercial aesthetic often confused contemporary audiences and critics, only to be widely celebrated as defining masterpieces decades later.

He also told The Times of London that he refuses to repeat himself and prides himself on keeping his projects financially viable, reflecting on his pioneering career and financial track record. And he still follows this rule, as evidenced by his recent film The Dog Stars, which he claims he made just because he thought Hollywood's stories in recent years were monotonous and repetitive.

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Interestingly, he mentioned earlier in the interview that there are still things on his career checklist.

Reflecting on his expansive career, the acclaimed director noted that despite his decades-long filmography, he has never tackled a traditional Western. Looking ahead to his future projects, Ridley Scott revealed plans to direct a Treasure Island adaptation starring Hugh Jackman, expressed a desire to helm a musical, and shared his ambition to bring a marvelous feature film about the African elephant to the screen.

The Dog Stars, starring Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, and Jacob Elordi, is Scott's upcoming movie. He said he got along well with Elordi, his leading man, and hailed him as a “big star.” Notably, the director’s praise was met with similar sentiments from the cast of the film in a recent interview. The director will forever remain one of the greats cinema has ever seen, or, as he claims, the “influencer” of cinema. 

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What do you think about Ridley Scott’s comments on his own perception? Do let us know.