Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ridley Scott
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ridley Scott made an impact.
Sir Ridley Scott is a highly successful and influential English filmmaker known for his atmospheric and visually distinctive direction across science fiction, crime, and historical epic genres. His films have grossed over $5 billion worldwide. Recognized with a BAFTA Fellowship and other awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, and appointed a Knight Grand Cross by King Charles III in 2024.
February 1963: Designer for Tonight
In February 1963, Ridley Scott was credited as Designer for the BBC television programme 'Tonight'.
1963: Trainee Set Designer at BBC
In 1963, Ridley Scott secured a job as a trainee set designer with the BBC, which led to work on television series such as Z-Cars and Out of the Unknown.
1965: Directing for BBC
In 1965, Ridley Scott began directing episodes of television series for the BBC.
1968: Founded Ridley Scott Associates (RSA)
In 1968, Ridley and his younger brother, Tony Scott, founded Ridley Scott Associates (RSA), a film and commercial production company.
1973: Hovis bread advertisement
In 1973, Ridley Scott directed the Hovis bread advertisement "Bike Round", filmed in Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset.
1977: The Duellists Release
In 1977, 'The Duellists' marked Ridley Scott's first feature film as director, and it was nominated for the main prize at the Cannes Film Festival and won an award for Best Debut Film.
1979: Alien release
In 1979, Ridley Scott directed 'Alien', a horror/science-fiction film that won him international success, becoming the sixth highest-grossing film of the year.
1982: Blade Runner release
In 1982, Ridley Scott directed 'Blade Runner', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of urban environments.
1982: Blade Runner Release and Reception
In 1982, Ridley Scott's film 'Blade Runner', starring Harrison Ford, was released but was a commercial disappointment in theaters and received criticism.
1985: Legend Release
In 1985, Scott directed 'Legend', a fantasy film starring Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, and Tim Curry, produced by Arnon Milchan.
1987: Someone to Watch Over Me release
In 1987, Ridley Scott directed 'Someone to Watch Over Me', a romantic thriller starring Tom Berenger and Mimi Rogers.
1989: Black Rain release
In 1989, Ridley Scott directed 'Black Rain', a police drama starring Michael Douglas and Andy García, which was very well received at the box office.
1995: Purchase of Shepperton Studios
In 1995, Shepperton Studios was purchased by a consortium headed by Ridley and Tony Scott, who extensively renovated the studios.
2000: Gladiator release
In 2000, Ridley Scott directed 'Gladiator', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of urban environments.
2001: Gladiator II discussed
In early 2001, discussions began for Gladiator II, Ridley Scott's sequel to Gladiator, before production began in June 2023.
2001: Influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey
Upon seeing Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey', Ridley Scott knew what he could do, solidifying his path in filmmaking.
2002: Executive Producer of The Gathering Storm
In 2002, Ridley Scott and his brother Tony were among the executive producers of The Gathering Storm, a television biographical film of Winston Churchill.
2003: Restoration and re-release of Alien
In 2003, Ridley Scott was involved in the restoration and re-release of the original film 'Alien'.
2005: Kingdom of Heaven release
In 2005, Ridley Scott directed 'Kingdom of Heaven', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of urban environments.
2005: Producer of Numb3rs
In 2005, Ridley and Tony Scott produced the CBS series Numb3rs, a crime drama about a genius mathematician who helps the FBI solve crimes.
July 2006: Scott discusses audio commentaries
In the July 2006 issue of Total Film magazine, Ridley Scott stated that he provides audio commentaries and interviews for all his films where possible, to give the film added life.
2006: Initial Involvement with House of Gucci
In 2006, Ridley Scott was initially set to direct the film House of Gucci, however, the project remained in development for many years before he returned to it in 2019.
2006: Unhappiness about Alien: The Director's Cut
In a 2006 interview, Ridley Scott remarked that he had been unhappy about 'Alien: The Director's Cut', feeling that the original was "pretty flawless" and that the additions were merely a marketing tool.
2009: Producer of The Good Wife
In 2009, Ridley and Tony Scott produced The Good Wife, a legal drama about an attorney balancing her job with her husband, a former state attorney.
2010: Robin Hood release
In 2010, Ridley Scott directed 'Robin Hood', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of urban environments.
2010: Producer of The A-Team film adaptation
In 2010, Ridley and Tony Scott produced a film adaptation of the 1980s television show The A-Team, directed by Joe Carnahan.
2012: Prometheus release
In 2012, Ridley Scott directed 'Prometheus', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of extraterrestrial worlds.
2013: Publication of The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott
The 2013 book The Culture and Philosophy of Ridley Scott identifies Alan Turing and John Searle as presenting relevant models of testing artificial intelligence.
2014: Exodus: Gods and Kings release
In 2014, Ridley Scott directed 'Exodus: Gods and Kings', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of urban environments.
2015: The Martian release
In 2015, Ridley Scott directed 'The Martian', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of extraterrestrial worlds.
2015: Executive Producer of The Man in the High Castle
In 2015, Ridley Scott was an executive producer of the first season of Amazon's The Man in the High Castle.
2016: Executive Producer on BrainDead
In 2016, Ridley Scott was an executive producer on the dark comic science-fiction series BrainDead, which debuted on CBS.
2016: The Good Wife ends
In 2016, the CBS series The Good Wife, produced by Ridley and Tony Scott, ended.
November 2017: Amazon agrees to release The Terror
On November 2017, Amazon agreed a deal with AMC Studios for a worldwide release of The Terror, Scott's series adaptation of Dan Simmons' novel.
2017: Alien: Covenant release
In 2017, Ridley Scott directed 'Alien: Covenant', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of extraterrestrial worlds.
November 2019: Scott Returns to Direct House of Gucci
In November 2019, Ridley Scott returned to the House of Gucci project, which he was originally set to direct in 2006, after it languished in development with other directors considered.
2019: Executive Producer for A Christmas Carol
In 2019, Scott was an executive producer for the BBC/FX three-part miniseries A Christmas Carol, developed by Steven Knight.
2020: Scott Directs The Last Duel
In 2020, Ridley Scott directed The Last Duel, a film adaptation of Eric Jager's book.
October 2021: Release of The Last Duel
In October 2021, Ridley Scott's film The Last Duel, an adaptation of Eric Jager's book, was released. The film received positive reviews, but failed to perform well at the box office.
November 2021: Release of House of Gucci
In November 2021, Ridley Scott's film, House of Gucci, about the murder of Maurizio Gucci, was released.
February 2022: Filming begins for Napoleon
In February 2022, filming commenced for Napoleon, Ridley Scott's biopic of Napoleon Bonaparte, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby.
August 2022: Executive Producer for Dope Thief
In August 2022, it was announced Scott would executive produce the Apple TV+ series Dope Thief, and would also direct an episode.
June 2023: Production begins for Gladiator II
In June 2023, production started for Gladiator II, Ridley Scott's sequel to Gladiator, featuring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal.
February 2024: Scott to direct Bee Gees biopic
In February 2024, it was announced that Ridley Scott will direct Paramount Pictures' Bee Gees biopic titled You Should Be Dancing.
September 2024: Scott reveals plans for Gladiator III
In a September 2024 interview for French network La Premiere while promoting Gladiator II, Ridley Scott revealed that he was planning a Gladiator III.
2024: Gladiator sequel
In 2024, Ridley Scott continued to showcase memorable imagery of urban environments by directing the sequel to 'Gladiator'.
April 2025: Filming of The Dog Stars set to begin
In April 2025, principal photography is set to begin in Italy for The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott, based on the Peter Heller novel of the same name starring Jacob Elordi.
Mentioned in this timeline
Home Box Office HBO is an American pay television service...
Elizabeth II reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom and...
CBS is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio...
Apple TV is a digital media player and microconsole by...
Sony Group Corporation is a Japanese multinational conglomerate based in...
Tom Cruise is a highly successful American actor and producer...
Trending
4 months ago Sean Connery's Villa Listed, Terrifying Executives, and MCU's Future Movies
Troy Edward Melton is a professional baseball pitcher from America who plays for the Detroit Tigers in MLB He began...
Logan Gilbert is a professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners making his Major League Baseball debut in He is...
4 months ago Will Vest Achieves 12th Save for Tigers, Navigates Outing with Mixed Results.
5 months ago Drew Barrymore spotlights daughters and launches '70s-inspired furniture collection at Walmart.
1 hour ago Riley Green to Headline Carolina Country Music Fest 2026: Announcement Confirmed!
Popular
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Charlie Kirk is an American right-wing political activist entrepreneur and...
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who gained international...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Kashyap Pramod Patel is an American lawyer and former federal...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...