Ridley Scott Calls Himself Influencer, Not Filmmaker

Renowned director Ridley Scott, in a recent interview, described himself not as a filmmaker but as an "influencer," citing his long history of being ahead of industry trends. At 88 years old, the veteran director shared his perspective in a discussion with The Times of London, published on August 23, 2026, ahead of his latest film's release. He pointed to his iconic works across genres-from the sci-fi horror of "Alien" and the cyberpunk of "Blade Runner" to the historical epic "Gladiator"-as evidence of his influential impact.

"Every time, you are vulnerable," Scott explained when asked about a through line in his career. "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's next opportunity to demonstrate this influence arrives with "The Dog Stars," a post-apocalyptic sci-fi film set for theatrical release on August 28, 2026. Based on the novel by Peter Heller, the story follows Hig, a former pilot played by Jacob Elordi, who survives with only his dog and a former Marine, played by Josh Brolin, until a...