There’s no stopping Ridley Scott. Even at 83, he’s a prolific filmmaking force – in 2021 alone adding The Last Duel and House Of Gucci to a career that already spans five decades, with stone cold classics like Alien, Blade Runner and Gladiator. And beyond his two new releases yet to arrive this year, Ridley Scott still has his eyes set firmly on what’s next – his Napoleon movie Kitbag, followed by a long-awaited sequel to Gladiator.
Following his 14th century-set epic The Last Duel and glamorous, Lady Gaga-starring House Of Gucci – arriving in October and November respectively – Scott’s focus shifts to Kitbag, which tells of Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power. That film will see him working with Jodie Comer again, with Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role. Speaking to Empire in the new issue, Scott elaborated on his take on Napoleon’s story. “The thing that really makes Napoleon tick is, why was he in so much need of Josephine?” he says. “There was a need for each other. And we think we’ve pinpointed what that was.”
While Kitbag will be no small undertaking, Scott already has Maximus on his mind too – finally, long-gestating plans for a sequel to his 2000 masterpiece seem to be gaining traction. “I’m already having [the next] Gladiator written now,” he says. “So when I’ve done Napoleon, Gladiator will be ready to go.” That’s quite a roster, Ridders – consider us entertained.
Read Empire’s full interview with Ridley Scott in the new issue, which also includes exclusives on Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Harder They Fall, Marvel’s Eternals and more. Find it on newsstands from Thursday 30th September, or pre-order a copy online here.
The Last Duel will be released in UK cinemas on 15th October, and House Of Gucci arrives on 26th November 2021.