Ridley Scott has opened up about losing control of both the Alien and Blade Runner franchises, explaining his regrets about not being able to direct the sequels to both movies. The director's classic sci-fi films helped spawn two franchises, both of which have seen relative success as they have expanded over time. However, many of the Alien movies that followed the original have not been directed by Scott, while the sequel to the latter, Blade Runner 2049, was spearheaded by Dune director Denis Villeneuve.

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Scott opened up about losing control of the Alien and Blade Runner franchises, including his regrets about not directing the initial sequels to both of his films. The director explained how, given how new he was to Hollywood when he made both movies, it was inevitable he wouldn't have control over where their sequels went. Check out what Scott had to say about the lack of creative control below:

I was slow out the starting gate. I mean, I should have done the sequels to Alien and to Blade Runner. You change over the years. At that time, I didn’t want to go through it again. So Jim Cameron came in—and then David Fincher—on Alien. I was regretful [I didn't do Blade Runner 2049], although [Denis Villeneuve] did a good job.

I’m the author of two franchises. Most directors in Hollywood—certainly, let’s say, at my level—don’t let that stuff go. But I did Alien as my second movie, so I didn’t have much choice. And Blade Runner was my third movie. So, I had no choice because I had very tough partners. It was kind of ‘Welcome to Hollywood.’ I was never told or asked. You can imagine I wasn’t happy.

Alien & Blade Runner Would Be Different If Ridley Scott Had Been Given Control Of Their Sequels

During the interview, Scott also explained how he wanted to ensure the forthcoming Gladiator II was still made by him, despite often not coming back to make sequels for his movies. This isn't the only time he's made a follow-up to one of his more popular films, though, with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant serving as prequels to the franchise he started in 1979. However, the filmmaker clearly has regrets about not following through with expanding the universes of his much-beloved sci-fi classics himself.

Had Scott been able to pursue sequels to either of his most popular franchises, they likely would have turned out much different from what they became. James Cameron's Aliens skewed more toward being an action movie, a drastic change to the series the original director may not have embraced at the time. Instead, the sequel would likely continue relying on methodical horror elements. As for Blade Runner, the introspective nature of Villeneuve's sequel would likely still be in the original director's vision, albeit with some changes to how it was presented.

Although the Alien and Blade Runner franchises became successful partially thanks to the direction of their sequels, seeing Scott's vision for how either universe would develop would have been interesting. Thankfully, his creative control over Gladiator II means the historical fiction film can get a proper follow-up from the director in charge of the original. Although seeing his sequels to the other franchise would have been intriguing, it seems he still has creative control over the movies he made when he became an established director.

Scott himself has directed a sequel to a franchise he didn't create, that being Hannibal , a sequel to The Silence of the Lambs.