As a seasoned cinephile who has witnessed the grandeur of Ridley Scott’s diverse filmography unfold over the years, I must admit that the prospect of the visionary director taking on Disney’s Merlin Saga was an intriguing and unexpected twist in Hollywood’s tale. The idea of Scott, known for his historical epics and genre-bending masterpieces, delving into a full-fledged fantasy film under the Disney banner was indeed tantalizing.
Taking a look at Ridley Scott’s filmography reveals an eclectic and versatile director who isn’t confined by typical expectations or genres. While historical epics like his first feature-length film “The Duelists” certainly have a place, he has ventured into diverse areas of cinema. This includes war movies such as “Black Hawk Down,” crime capers like “Matchstick Men,” and fantastical films like “Legend.” Given Scott’s track record, it may not surprise you to learn that he is open to any genre or cinematic style. However, even for a director as versatile as him, the project he took on in 2018 was still something of a shock.
The movie you’re referring to was based on the book series “The Merlin Saga.” This film would have been a fantasy project, as it falls under the genre that Ridley Scott previously explored in “Legend.” Notably, this potential project would have involved Ridley Scott working with Disney, as they owned the rights to “The Merlin Saga.” For a fleeting instant around the end of the 2010s, the worlds of Walt Disney Pictures and Ridley Scott nearly intersected.
The Earliest Days of Ridley Scott’s Merlin Saga
As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but share my excitement about Ridley Scott’s involvement with “The Merlin Saga,” news that broke in January 2018, hot on the heels of his blockbuster film, “All the Money in the World.” With two masterpieces, “World” and “Alien: Covenant,” gracing multiplex screens across the globe in 2017, one would think that such a demanding schedule might have worn him out. Far from it! The news of his discussions with Disney to direct “The Merlin Saga” not only came as a surprise but was also announced as his next project. Among several films he was associated with at the time, this epic seemed to be taking precedence.
In a twist of events, this would have been his inaugural movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures, but it wasn’t his debut film under the Disney Corporation. Two of his films from the 1990s, “White Squall” and “G.I. Jane,” were released through Hollywood Pictures. Despite his familiarity with the Disney studios, directing a straight-forward fantasy film for the Walt Disney Pictures label was an unanticipated decision on his part.
This news article from Variety highlights an unexpected element about Disney’s current plans to create a film adaptation of the ‘Merlin Saga’. Previously, in the late 2010s, Disney was also working on a live-action reboot of ‘The Sword in the Stone’, as part of their commitment to remake many of their classic animated films. As per Variety’s report, Scott had discussions with Disney about directing the new version of ‘The Sword in the Stone’, but instead chose ‘The Merlin Saga’ for unspecified reasons. Considering this, it’s quite peculiar that Disney was simultaneously developing two major movies based on King Arthur folklore. The failure of Guy Ritchie’s ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ at the box office for Warner Bros. the year before added to the perplexity surrounding these concurrent projects.
Despite no updates on “The Merlin Saga” in 2018, there was talk in early 2019 that Disney and Ridley Scott were pushing forward with the project. It was rumored that casting had begun for the film, and production was set to start towards the end of the year. However, in July 2019, Scott unexpectedly changed course and focused on another medieval project, “The Last Duel.” Interestingly, due to the merger between 20th Century Studios and Disney, “The Last Duel” ended up being distributed by a label formerly associated with Disney, thus bringing Ridley Scott back to work under the Disney umbrella!
Why Did Ridley Scott Abandon The Merlin Saga?
As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but share an intriguing insight I stumbled upon regarding Ridley Scott’s work. In a 2022 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he casually mentioned that Disney had proposed a wizard film and his response was a firm no. He stated it wasn’t a good fit for him. This brief remark gives us a glimpse into possibly why the buzz around Scott’s Merlin Saga seemed to fade after the initial Variety news piece, only to resurface with The Last Duel announcement. It could be that Scott’s passion for the project might not have been as intense as initially speculated.
Back in late 2021, Disney revealed Michael Matthews, director of “Love and Monsters,” as the new director for “The Merlin Saga.” However, over three years later, there’s been no progress on this project, suggesting that “The Merlin Saga” might never see the light of day. This book adaptation had initially given the impression it would become a reality and even hinted at the potential involvement of the director of “Gladiator II” in the Walt Disney Pictures universe. But alas, it seems like this project may have stalled.
Gladiator II is now in theaters.
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2024-11-24 18:09