Ridley Scott Explains Why He Won't Do Superhero Movies

12/31/2016 01:26 pm EST

Director Ridley Scott has lived that old Dark Knight adage about living long enough to see himself become the villain. After breaking out in the late 1970s/1980s with sci-fi hits like Alien and Blade Runner, Scott added hits to resume in any and all genres, with films like Thelma & Louise, G.I. Jane, Gladiator, Hannibal, American Gangster and Black Hawk Down.

However, as the late 2000s evolved into the 2010s, Ridley Scott has been noticeably left lagging behind. Films like Body of Lies, Robin Hood, The Counsellor and Exodus: Gods and Kings just didn't connect - and even his Alien prequel film, Prometheus, was a divisive and confusing film. It hasn't gone without notice that even as Ridley Scott has struggled, the era of superhero blockbusters has risen to dominance in the film industry. But that change in trends isn't swaying the acclaimed director.

Speaking to Digital Spy on the subject of superhero movies, Scott said, "Superhero movies are not my kind of thing - that's why I've never really done one. [I've been asked] several times, but I can't believe in the thin, gossamer tight-rope of the non-reality of the situation of the superhero."

He compared his Blade Runner film to one that is like a graphic novel, with the noted exception that if he were to "put Batman or Superman in that world that atmosphere," he would "have a f**king good story, as opposed to no story!"

According to Scott, it's his preference to, "keep making smart films"; there will no doubt be strong fan reaction to that statement, as the Internet is not likely to miss the opportunity to get savage on the idea of the word "smart" being applied to Prometheus.

Scott will have a chance to course-correct any mistakes Prometheus made, when his next film, Alien: Covenant arrives in theaters early summer 2017.

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Alien: Covenant hits theaters May 19, 2017.

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