Ridley Scott Talks Superhero Movies and Says He Turned Down Offers to Direct Because His ‘Fuckin’ Stories Are Better’

Director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) has once again revealed his distaste for comic book films and revealed that he has turned down offers to direct them. Instead, he says that some of the movies he’s made are actually superhero movies… and that the stories he’s told are better.

While talking to Deadline about his latest historical epic, NapoleonIt was pointed out that many viewers are now more interested in TikTok and superheroes, prompting him to share his thoughts on the topic, saying:

“There’s this idolization of superheroes, which is really just an extension of comics, and from that it’s very difficult to write a comic book story and successfully bring it to film. That said, I’m not a fan of superheroes, even though I loved comics.”

He went on to say that there are superhero movies he’s liked in the past, like Richard Donner’s Superman, and some Batman movies, but explains that the way they’re made feels less real now:

“I think there are a couple of pretty good Batmans, and that Dick Donner Superman movie captured the comic book tradition. As we’ve broadened our visual capabilities, I think, strangely enough, everything becomes less and less real, and now it seemed to become an excuse for actors to make a lot of money playing superheroes.”

When asked if he’s ever been offered a superhero project, Scott responded:

“Yes, I was offered it, but I just said, no, thanks. Not for me. I’ve done two or three superhero movies. I think Sigourney Weaver is a superhero in Aliens. I think Russell Crowe is a superhero in Gladiator And Harrison Ford is the super antihero in Blade Runner. The difference is, the fucking stories are better.

I totally understand why some directors just don’t like superhero movies. Hell, even right now audiences and fans are getting tired of them. This isn’t the first time Scott has gone on a rampage about superhero movies. Previously he said:

“The best movies are character-driven, and after this we’ll get to superheroes, if you want, because I’m going to destroy it. I’m going to fucking destroy it. They’re damn boring as shit.”

“Their scripts are not good at all… why don’t superhero movies have better stories? I’m sorry. I’ve gone off the rails, but I mean, come on. They’re mostly saved by special effects, and that’s getting boring for anyone who works with special effects, if you have the money.”

I don’t really want to see Scott make a superhero movie, I want him to keep making the movies he does because most of them definitely tell great stories! His films are definitely more interesting than the kind of superhero films we see made these days.