History of Ridley Scott in Timeline
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.
November 1937: Ridley Scott's Birth
In November 1937, Ridley Scott was born in South Shields to Francis Percy Scott and Elizabeth, née Williams.
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.
1964: Marriage to Felicity Heywood
In 1964, Ridley Scott married Felicity Heywood.
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.
1975: Divorce from Felicity Heywood
In 1975, Ridley Scott divorced Felicity Heywood.
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.
1979: Marriage to Sandy Watson
In 1979, Ridley Scott married advertising executive Sandy Watson.
1980: Death of brother Frank
In 1980, Ridley Scott's eldest brother Frank died, aged 45, of skin cancer.
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.
1989: Divorce from Sandy Watson
In 1989, Ridley Scott divorced Sandy Watson.
1991: Warner Bros. Director's Cut
In 1991, Warner Bros. used Ridley Scott's notes to create a rushed director's cut of 'Blade Runner', which removed the main character's voiceover and made other small changes.
1995: British Academy Film Award
In 1995, Ridley Scott and his brother Tony received a British Academy Film Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
1995: BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema
In 1995, Ridley and his brother Tony received the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution To Cinema.
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.
1999: Emmy Nomination for RKO 281
In 1999, Ridley Scott was Emmy-nominated for RKO 281.
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.
2002: Primetime Emmy Award
In 2002, Ridley Scott won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Film for the HBO film 'The Gathering Storm'.
2002: Director's Cut of Legend
In 2002, the Director's Cut of Ridley Scott's film 'Legend' restored Jerry Goldsmith's original score.
July 2003: Knighthood Investiture Ceremony
On July 8, 2003, Ridley Scott received his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
2003: Restoration and re-release of Alien
In 2003, Ridley Scott was involved in the restoration and re-release of the original film 'Alien'.
2003: Knighthood
In 2003, Ridley Scott was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, a high honor acknowledging his achievements and contributions.
2004: Publication of "The Last Duel" Book
In 2004, Eric Jager's book "The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France" was published. Ridley Scott would later adapt the book into a film.
2004: Ranked on BBC list
In a 2004 BBC poll, Ridley Scott was ranked 10 on the list of most influential people in British culture.
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: Bike Round voted UK's favorite commercial
In 2006, the 1973 Hovis bread advertisement "Bike Round" directed by Ridley Scott was voted the UK's favourite commercial.
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.
October 2007: The Final Cut Release
On October 5, 2007, Ridley Scott personally supervised a digital restoration of Blade Runner and approved what was called The Final Cut, which was released in Los Angeles, New York City and Toronto cinemas.
December 2007: DVD release of The Final Cut
In December 2007, the Final Cut of 'Blade Runner' was released as an elaborate DVD.
2007: Inducted into Science Fiction Hall of Fame
In 2007, Ridley Scott was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.
2008: Emmy Nomination for The Andromeda Strain
In 2008, Ridley Scott was Emmy-nominated for 'The Andromeda Strain'.
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: Emmy Nomination for The Pillars of the Earth
In 2010, Ridley Scott was Emmy-nominated for 'The Pillars of the Earth'.
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.
2011: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2011, Ridley Scott received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2011: Primetime Emmy Award
In 2011, Ridley Scott won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special for the History Channel's 'Gettysburg'.
August 2012: Death of brother Tony Scott
On August 19, 2012, Ridley Scott's younger brother Tony died at the age of 68 after jumping from the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
September 2012: Premiere of Coma miniseries
On September 3, 2012, the two-part miniseries Coma, a collaboration between Ridley and Tony Scott, premiered on A&E to mixed reviews.
2012: Filming of Prometheus
During the filming of Ridley Scott's 2012 film, Prometheus, Charlize Theron praised the director's willingness to listen to suggestions from the cast.
2012: Prometheus release
In 2012, Ridley Scott directed 'Prometheus', showcasing his talent for memorable imagery of extraterrestrial worlds.
2012: Selected for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover
In 2012, Ridley Scott was among the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.
2013: Scott states he is an atheist
In 2013, Ridley Scott stated that he is an atheist.
2013: Blu-ray release of The Duellists
In 2013, the release of 'The Duellists' on Blu-ray coincided with the publication of an essay on the film in a collection of scholarly essays on Scott.
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.
September 2014: BBC Interview on Belief in God
In a September 2014 BBC interview, Ridley Scott was asked if he believes in God.
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: Marriage to Giannina Facio
In 2015, Ridley Scott married actress Giannina Facio.
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: Tribute to Tony Scott at Golden Globes
In 2016, Ridley Scott paid tribute to his late brother Tony at the Golden Globes, after his film, The Martian, won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
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.
2017: Compared to Hitchcock and Ford
In 2017, the German newspaper FAZ compared Ridley Scott's influence on the science fiction film genre to Sir Alfred Hitchcock's on thrillers and John Ford's on Westerns.
March 2018: Premiere of The Terror
In March 2018, The Terror, Scott's series adaptation of Dan Simmons' novel, premiered.
2018: BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement
In 2018, Ridley Scott received the BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement, marking recognition of his significant contributions to the film industry.
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.
2020: Release of Raised by Wolves on HBO Max
In 2020, Ridley Scott's first television directing role in 50 years, Raised by Wolves, was released on HBO Max.
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.
November 2023: Release of Napoleon by Sony Pictures Releasing
On November 22, 2023, Napoleon, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Joaquin Phoenix, was released by Sony Pictures Releasing.
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.
November 2024: Release of Gladiator II
On November 22, 2024, Gladiator II, the sequel to Gladiator directed by Ridley Scott, was released.
2024: Gladiator sequel
In 2024, Ridley Scott continued to showcase memorable imagery of urban environments by directing the sequel to 'Gladiator'.
2024: Knight Grand Cross
In 2024, Ridley Scott was appointed a Knight Grand Cross by King Charles III, further recognizing his distinguished service and contributions.
2024: Appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
In the 2024 New Year Honours, Ridley Scott was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) by King Charles III.
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.
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