Visionary film director Ridley Scott, the mastermind behind classics like 'Alien' and 'Blade Runner', recently revealed that he turned down an astronomical sum of money to direct the third installment of the Terminator saga, 'Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines' (2003), feeling that the material didn't suit his style.

"I'm proud of this. I turned down an offer of $20 million. See? They can't buy me, man." Ridley Scott – Film Director

A strategy gone wrong?

The British director recounted a curious anecdote about the negotiations. Knowing that star Arnold Schwarzenegger would be receiving a large salary, Scott decided to employ a tactic to get the studio to reject his participation: demand the same figure as the actor.

"Someone said, 'Ask what Arnie gets,'" Scott explained. “I thought, 'I'll try it.' I said, 'I want what Arnie does.' When they said yes, I thought, 'Fuck me!'”

Despite the hefty financial offer, his artistic integrity won out. Scott ultimately turned down the project, feeling it detracted from his core filmmaking.

The fundamental reason for his rejection went beyond money. Scott compared the 'Terminator' franchise to the James Bond films, arguing that its tone didn't fit his vision.

"I couldn't do it. It's not my thing. It's like doing a Bond movie. The essence of a Bond movie is fun and humor. Terminator is pure comic book. I would try to make it real. That's why I've never been asked to do a Bond movie, because I might screw it up," he admitted candidly.

The fate of 'Terminator 3' and other famous rejections

Ultimately, the film was directed by Jonathan Mostow (U-571) and released in 2003 with Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken are in the cast. The film received mixed reviews and grossed $433.4 million worldwide.

This isn't the only blockbuster Scott has turned down. He also turned down directing 'Top Gun: Maverick' for a deeply personal reason: out of respect for the legacy of his late brother, Tony Scott, who directed the original.

"They asked me to direct it," he told The Hollywood Reporter in November, "and I said, 'I don't want to follow in my brother's footsteps.'" Ridley noted that their styles were very different, with Tony's focusing more on "present-day life," while her prefers historical, fantasy, or science fiction worlds.