Why Ridley Scott Rejected $20 Million for Terminator 3

Ridley Scott recently opened up about rejecting the chance to direct Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. In a new interview, he revealed why he turned down a $20 million offer and explained why the franchise didn’t fit his filmmaking style.

Ridley Scott is proud of rejecting Terminator 3 for $20 million

Scott revealed in an interview with The Guardian that he rejected a $20 million offer to helm Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. He explained, “I’m proud about this. I turned down a $20m fee. See, I can’t be bought, dude.” Scott admitted that he initially asked for the same pay as Arnold Schwarzenegger, not expecting the studio to agree. When they accepted, he declined the project, saying, “But I couldn’t do it. It’s not my thing.”

Released in 2003, Terminator 3 was ultimately directed by Jonathan Mostow after James Cameron stepped back from the franchise. Scott described why he felt unsuited for the film, adding, “It’s like doing a Bond movie. The essence of a Bond movie is fun and camp. Terminator is pure comic strip. I would try to make it real. That’s why they’ve never asked me to do a Bond movie, because I could f— it up.” His remarks highlighted that while he admired the franchise, its tone did not align with his filmmaking style.

The $20 million offer would have made Scott one of the highest-paid directors of the time. By comparison, Schwarzenegger’s paycheck for Terminator 3 was a record-setting $29.25 million, making him the highest-paid actor in the world then. Scott’s decision marked a significant rejection, as few directors had ever walked away from such a figure.

Scott’s career at that point had already included Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), and Gladiator (2000). His choice to decline Terminator 3 underscored his preference for projects where he could apply his signature visual style and thematic depth.

As he explained that Terminator feels more like a comic strip, while he would have wanted to make it more realistic, emphasizing that his approach could have clashed with the expectations of the franchise.

Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net