Ridley Scott has directed some of the most iconic films of all time. The English filmmaker has a diverse filmography and impresses audiences with his opulent style of direction. As a result, Scott would have been an ideal pick to direct a Harry Potter-style wizarding film and Disney felt the same way.
However, during an interview, Scott revealed that he had no interest in directing a wizard film. While Scott may have turned down the offer from Disney, the success of the Harry Potter and other wizarding franchises proves that the director must reconsider his decision. Here is why Ridley Scott rejected Disney’s offer and why he should retread his decision.
Ridley Scott Recalls Turning Down Disney’s Offer to Direct a Wizard Film
Ridley Scott‘s filmography includes iconic films such as the Academy Award-winning The Martian and Gladiator. Given Scott’s penchant for opulence, a fantasy wizard film would have felt at home in his filmography. While Scott directed his first and only fantasy film Legend, released in 1985, he is yet to dive back into the genre.
During a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scott revealed that Disney approached him to direct a wizard film. Scott revealed that he was offered to direct a wizard fantasy film after Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, which had produced most of his films until that point.
“The older I get, the more I look for things which are about something, aren’t just entertainment, it must have an effect on somebody. They (Disney) wanted me to do a wizard film, and I don’t do wizard films. It wasn’t a good idea.”
Disney’s acquisition of Fox was initiated in 2017 and was completed in 2019. Therefore, Scott was likely offered the wizard film by Disney sometime after 2019. While Scott confirmed Disney had approached him, the Napoleon director did not reveal the details of the project he was offered.
The Success of Harry Potter Proves Ridley Scott Should Direct a Wizard Film
According to reports, there has been speculation that The Merlin Saga, a film based on T.A. Barron’s book series about a young Merlin and a live-action remake of Disney’s 1963 animated film The Sword in the Stone might have been offered to Scott at the time. Back then, Scott was unwilling to work on a wizard fantasy film.
However, in recent years Scott’s films have struggled to make an impression at the box office. His 2021 historical action-drama The Last Duel and 2023’s Napoleon, which boasted star-studded casts failed to perform well at the global box office. On the other hand, the Harry Potter franchise, aka the Wizarding World franchise, has collected more than $9.5 billion globally.
Other films such as the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogy, which heavily feature wizardry have also been commercially successful. 2016’s Doctor Strange and its sequel, which combines the superhero genre with sorcery, grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide. All things said Harry Potter and other wizard franchises prove that the subgenre is rife with potential and could turn around Scott’s box office fortunes if he decides to dip his toes into it.
Harry Potter films are streaming on Peacock and Max.
