Ridley Scott has no regrets about directing or promoting the historic Disney drama “The Last Duel” – young people and their cell phones are to blame for the box office failure, he says.
The director, known for commercially and critically acclaimed films such as “Alien”, “Thelma & Louise” and “The Martian”, appeared in the comedy Marc Maron’s podcast “WTF” on Monday. Among the topics discussed was “The Last Duel”, a film directed by Scott written by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon based on the book of the same name by Eric Jager, which grossed just $ 27 million worldwide despite a budget of $ 100. millions of dollars. .
“No. Disney did a fantastic job of promoting,” Scott said when Maron hinted that the company might be the reason for the low performance of “The Last Duel.” “It was not for them – but they really liked the movie, so the advertising, the publicity, etc., was great.”
“I think that sums it up – what we have today [are] the audience raised on these fucking cell phones. “Millennials never want to be taught anything unless they tell you on their cell phone,” Scott continued. “This is a wide-ranging stroke, but I think we’re dealing with it right now with Facebook. “There is a wrong direction that has happened where the last generation has been given the wrong confidence, I think.”
Maron said he believed the time period and action in the film would be a draw for the younger audience.
“I agree with you. Especially with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Adam Driver and this young girl named Jodie Comer. This is the call you make. That was the call Fox made. We all thought it was a wonderful “Script and we did it,” Scott replied. “You can’t keep winning. As far as I’m concerned, I have never regretted any film I have made. Nothing. “What you really have to think about is what you just did. Go away. Make sure you are happy. And don’t look back. This is me.”
“The Last Duel” is not the only box office failure that Scott blames on others.
“[In 1982], I made a movie called “Blade Runner”. It was my third film. “Very fucking,” he told Maron. “I was killed. he killed me [film critic] Pauline Kael, who did not even know me. She had never met me and I suddenly read this article in the New Yorker, which is a very classy magazine. I read it and there is a series of four pages with insults. The frame. He’s in my office right now. “
“I have never read a review. “I never read a review again,” Scott added, “because he was so wrong. I was very much in front of her. “
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