Ridley Scott Jose Oliva/Europa Press/Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Ridley Scott has revealed that he turned down a $20 million offer to direct Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker recently told The Guardian, "I'm proud about this. I turned down a $20M fee. See, I can't be bought, dude." While the 2003 Arnold Schwarzenegger-led pic was ultimately helmed by director Jonathan Mostow, Scott admitted he did inquire about the lead star's pay for the third installment before officially declining the offer. "Someone said: 'Ask what Arnie gets.' I thought: 'I'll try it out.' I said: 'I want what Arnie gets.' When they said yes, I thought: 'Fuck me,'" the Gladiator II director recalled. Related Stories TV Alex Lawther Talks 'Alien: Earth,' a "Godfather-ly" Ridley Scott and 'Black Mirror'-Esque Dread: "What's Scarier: Xenomorphs or Trillionaires?" TV New 'Alien: Earth' Trailer Reveals Monsters Gone Wild After Spaceship With Hybrid Life Forms Crashes But even when he learned how much he could earn if he took on the sci-fi action film, Scott said he still "couldn't do it." He added, "It's not my thing. It's like doing a [James] 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 fuck it up." Terminator 3 follows John Connor (Nick Stahl) as he faces a female Terminator with power over all the machines. But a new Terminator unit, a T-850, is sent back through time to help guide him through the coming battle. The movie grossed more than $433 million worldwide, not adjusted for inflation. While Scott has helmed some sci-fi films of his own, such as Alien (1979) and Blade Runner (1982), he also has interests in the crime and historical epic genres, directing Gladiator (2000), Thelma & Louise (1991), House of Gucci (2021) and Napoleon (2023), among others. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Star Wars Riz Ahmed Reveals He Was Hospitalized After His Body "Gave Up" While Filming 'Rogue One' Venice Film Festival 2025 Venice Anoints 'Jay Kelly' and George Clooney With Thunderous Standing Ovation Emma Stone Emma Stone Starrer 'Bugonia' Transfixes Venice, Draws Lengthy Standing Ovation Venice Film Festival 2025 'Jay Kelly' Review: George Clooney Plays the Movie Star but Adam Sandler Shines Brightest in Noah Baumbach's Sentimental Comedy-Drama Yorgos Lanthimos Emma Stone Is Kidnapped and Accused of Being an Alien in Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia' Trailer SXSW Neon Boards Damian McCarthy's 'Hokum,' Starring Adam Scott Star Wars Riz Ahmed Reveals He Was Hospitalized After His Body "Gave Up" While Filming 'Rogue One' Venice Film Festival 2025 Venice Anoints 'Jay Kelly' and George Clooney With Thunderous Standing Ovation Emma Stone Emma Stone Starrer 'Bugonia' Transfixes Venice, Draws Lengthy Standing Ovation Venice Film Festival 2025 'Jay Kelly' Review: George Clooney Plays the Movie Star but Adam Sandler Shines Brightest in Noah Baumbach's Sentimental Comedy-Drama Yorgos Lanthimos Emma Stone Is Kidnapped and Accused of Being an Alien in Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Bugonia' Trailer SXSW Neon Boards Damian McCarthy's 'Hokum,' Starring Adam Scott