Sir Ridley Scott has said he sees himself as “not a film-maker but an influencer”.

The 88-year-old director has been behind films including Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down and The Martian.

He is one of the highest-grossing directors of all time – winning two Golden Globes and two Emmys – as well as being nominated for four Oscars, eight Baftas and a Grammy.

However, despite his extensive filmography, Scott has now said he does not see himself as a “film-maker”.

Speaking to The Times, he said: “I never want to repeat myself and all my films have been on the money. I’ve been ahead of the game frequently and, if you’re ahead of the game, you’re an influencer. So, I’m not a film-maker, I’m an influencer.”

After making five films this decade, Scott went on to share ideas he had for future projects.

“I’ve never done a western. I have cast Hugh Jackman for my Treasure Island adaptation. I want to do a musical and, also, have a marvellous film about the African elephant,” he said.

He also took aim at other movies being rolled out in recent years.

“Look, everything now is about a murdered girl in the woods or an FBI agent who is better than anyone else – or a superhero. F*** me! There have to be other stories to tell,” he said.

Sir Ridley’s latest project is the adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel, The Dog Stars.

The action film follows Hig, a pilot played by Wuthering Heights star Jacob Elordi, who tries to stay alive alongside a group of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world after a virus wipes out most of humanity.

Speaking about what compelled him to make the film for the big screen, the director told the Press Association at the world premiere in central London this week: “Readers like music, and great writing is like great music.

Sir Ridley warned audiences to “be careful” and “watch out”, noting that the concept of the film is like a world where “you have Covid and then you have financial global collapse in 2008, but greedy banking, then you have something else. You have panic, chaos.

“Pay attention because it is kind of circling the wagon frame.”

The film also stars The Substance actress Margaret Qualley, No Country for Old Men’s Josh Brolin, Memento actor Guy Pearce and Doctor Strange actor Benedict Wong.