Ridley Scott’s production company, Scott Free Productions, has announced its desire to adapt more of the legendary director’s movies into television shows in the future. Through Scott Free, Ridley Scott has been working as an executive producer for two upcoming adaptations of some ofScott’s best films. Those shows,Alien: EarthandBlade Runner 2099, however, may be just the first.
PerVariety, Scott Free chief creative officerDavid W. Zucker said the production company was going to look at adapting other movies made by Ridley and Tony Scott. Zucker said that the TV landscape has changed enough, in terms of budgets and scope, that adapting larger-than-life movies into shows according to Scott Free’s vision is finally viable.
“[W]e are looking at a number of different [Ridley and Tony Scott movie titles] right now, and the point of entry is really: ‘What is its reason to be?’ because while it’s certainly [the case that] IP is ruling the day, and those titles all have different potential values and degrees of familiarity, it still comes down to what’s the foundational premise and concept for a piece that really merits it being brought forward now…
With each of those titles, it requires more hurdles out of the gate, because you have to align with the controlling studio and making sure that rights are available, and it demands a partnership and a mutual interest and an alignment going forward.
But there are a few of them that we’re exploring now that I think could have some great potential. By [the] end of summer, I think we’ll know if we have some traction going forward with them.”
Zucker also explained thatAlien: Earthshowrunner’s previous experience adaptingFargoto TV helped make the decision to go ahead with theAlienprequel easier. He also noted that figuring out various licensing and distribution rights are difficult. However,Zucker’s final comments imply that Scott Free could soon be announcing another upcoming TV adaptation.
What The Possible Upcoming Ridley Scott TV Adaptations Mean For Scott Free
It’s Not Clear What Ridley Scott Movie Could Be Turned Into A TV Show Next
While Scott Free’s intentions to adapt another Ridley Scott feature are clear, it’s not clearwhichmovie they’d turn into a show next.BothAlienandBlade Runnerare already getting the TV treatment, and the Scotts' other franchises either don’t have the same popularity or don’t have the same potential to be expanded.Thelma & Louise, for example, doesn’t have much expansion potential, nor does Tony Scott’sTrue Romance.
Other, potentially more viable intellectual properties started by the Scott brothers, also have their own problems. Several have already been revisited in recent years, and a TV adaptation wouldn’t have much room to expand the story.Gladiator, for example, just got a sequel last year, andTop Gungot a sequel in 2022. It’s not clear what, if anything, Scott Free is going to adapt to television.
Despite the uncertainty of subject material, Scott Free’s plans to adapt popular movies into TV shows is probably a smart move. As Zucker noted,intellectual property is the biggest business in Hollywood today, and Scott Free could probably be very successful in capitalizing on Ridley and Tony Scott’s iconic films. If it does prove successful, there may be several TV adaptations in the coming years.
Our Take On Scott Free’s Search For Its Next TV Adaptation
Adapting Movies Into TV Is Always Uncertain, But Scott Free Seems Like The Right Production Company To Do It
I have mixed feelings about Scott Free’s plans to adapt more of Ridley and Tony Scott’s movies into television shows. On the one hand,the lack of originality is a real problem in Hollywood, and I’d prefer to see Scott Free put its weight behind new movies and shows. Ridley Scott is a visionary with a lot of great ideas, and it seems a shame to put them to use on established IP.
Alien: Earth and Blade Runner 2099 should serve as a kind of litmus test to see if Scott Free can overcome that hurdle.
There’s also the ever-present problem all movie to TV adaptations face.Some movies simply don’t translate well to television, and trying to make a worthwhile adaption is always difficult. Luckily, bothAlien: EarthandBlade Runner 2099should serve as a kind of litmus test to see if Scott Free can overcome that hurdle.
On the other hand,if any production company were to take a crack at adapting the Scott brothers' works, I’d want it to be Scott Free. David Zucker put a lot of focus on his desire to add something meaningful to whatever the company’s next project is.Ridley Scott’s involvement should also help keep Scott Free’s next show from being a simple cash grab.
Blade Runner 2099
Blade Runner 2099 is a television series created for Prime Video and takes place fifty years after 2017’s Blade Runner 2049. Ridley Scott and Silka Luisa are executive producers of the series, with current plot details still under wraps.
