Ridley Scott: A Retrospective

A career-spanning retrospective of one of the most successful British filmmakers in Hollywood’s history.

‘If I were pressed to describe my style, I’d have to say it is called reality. No matter how stylized it gets, underneath it’s real’ Ridley Scott

Illustrated with images as iconic as they are stunning, and including the author’s first-hand experiences on set and interviews with Scott himself, this book charts the extraordinary journey of Britain’s greatest living director.

The stories behind many great films are revealed, from science fiction classics Alien, Blade Runner and The Martian, through timeless thrillers Hannibal and American Gangster, to historical hits Kingdom of Heaven, Napoleon and Gladiator II. The book explores the themes and motifs that unite such different films, and the methods of Scott’s approach to his medium.

This is the account of a director who has never been less than stubbornly, brilliantly, unforgettably his own man.

Review

'With dry wit and an eye for fascinating detail, Ian Nathan masterfully guides us through the Scott’s rollercoaster filmography ... juicy tales and stunning images aplenty ... Are you not entertained? You will be' - Nick de Semlyen, author of Wild and Crazy Guys: How the Comedy Mavericks of the ‘80s Changed Hollywood Forever

'A beautiful, insightful must-read for all Ridley Scott fans' - Ali Plumb, BBC Radio 1

About the Author

Ian Nathan is one of the UK’s best-known film writers. He is the author of eight previous books, including Alien Vault, the bestselling history of Ridley Scott’s masterpiece, Terminator Vault, Burton, The Coen Brothers and Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth. He is the former editor and executive editor of Empire, where he remains a contributing editor.