Christopher Nolan once called an up-and-coming director the “new Ridley Scott“, but his career didn’t exactly pan out that way. Nolan has established himself as one of the greatest directors of his generation, thanks to his ability to combine blockbuster spectacle with cerebral, complex stories. There probably aren’t any other directors who could create such a mᴀssive box office impact with a three-hour biopic like Oppenheimer or any of Nolan’s original movies. He has become his own franchise in a sense, so it’s worth listening when he decides to discuss the movie industry or any of his contemporaries.

Christopher Nolan’s best movies span a range of genres, but he’s particularly accomplished when it comes to sci-fi. With Interstellar, Inception and Tenet, Nolan has proven that he has a knack for exploring original and fascinating concepts in minute detail. This is something that he shares with Ridley Scott. The Alien and Blade Runner director can also master other genres, but he’s certainly earned his place among the pantheon of sci-fi greats. Nolan once thought that a young director had what it takes to become the next Ridley Scott, although this prediction turned out to be way off base.

Why Christopher Nolan Called Another Director The “New Ridley Scott” In 1992

Nolan Saw David Fincher As Scott’s Successor

In a 2020 interview, Nolan said that he thought David Fincher was destined to become the new Ridley Scott after watching Alien 3 in 1992. (via Collider) At the time, many of Ridley Scott’s best movies were still ahead of him, like Gladiator, The Martian and Black Hawk Down. It’s likely that Nolan was therefore referring to the impact of Alien and Blade Runner, believing that Fincher had the potential to become a masterful sci-fi director for a new generation. Nolan was quick to add that he has never shared this with Fincher, since the Alien 3 director was so dissatisfied with the final product.

“I’ve never dared mention [Alien 3] to him. I think he’s very aware of the flaws and he’s very aware of the appalling experience he had making it, and how put-upon he was, and I truly can only imagine.” – Christopher Nolan on David Fincher

Alien 3 was David Fincher’s feature-length debut, and he had a tough task ahead of him after Alien and James Cameron’s action-packed sequel were such huge successes. Fincher has been candid about his disappointment with how Alien 3, citing his difficulties during the production. He considered quitting the business altogether after his debut, but fortunately he bounced back and soon became one of Hollywood’s most exciting young directors. Nolan was right to see the potential in Fincher, even though Alien 3 is far from his best work.

Christopher Nolan’s Comments Make Sense, Based On Alien 3 Alone

Fincher’s First Movie Takes Cues From Scott

Based on Alien 3, it’s clear to see why Nolan thought that Fincher could become the new Ridley Scott. Of course, the entire Alien franchise has taken inspiration from the first movie, whether Scott was in the director’s chair or not. For all its flaws, Alien 3 has the same commitment to suspense and gritty worldbuilding that makes Alien stand out from other sci-fi movies of the era. There are also a few flashes of Fincher’s well-trained eye for drama in the ways that he frames his characters, although this is one technique that he would develop in later movies.

David Fincher’s Directorial Career Went In A Different Direction After Alien 3

Fincher Has Steered Clear Of Sci-Fi

Although Nolan may have been right to compare Fincher and Scott at the time, Fincher’s career soon took a dramatic left turn. Three years after Alien 3, Fincher returned with the detective thriller Se7en, which set the tone for many of his greatest hits in the years to come. After 1999’s Fight Club cemented his status as a crime genre maven, Fincher never looked back, and he still hasn’t made another sci-fi movie after Alien 3. The closest he has come has been The Curious Case of Benjamin ʙuттon, but this fantasy romance was a rare excursion into genre territory.

Most of Fincher’s best movies have been crime thrillers of some variety, from the true-crime historical drama Zodiac to the Hitchcockian social thriller Gone Girl. Perhaps Fincher would have been more open to sci-fi movies if Alien 3 had been a smoother experience for him, but it’s probably for the best that he quickly moved on and found his niche. Fincher’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood spinoff is set to reunite the director with frequent collaborator Brad Pitt, as the duo tackle another stylish crime thriller. Comparisons to Ridley Scott now look extremely outdated.

Source: Collider