Ridley Scott is famous for movies such as Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, and The Martian. Yet his television career is far larger than many viewers realize. Ridley Scott TV shows include acclaimed dramas, science-fiction series, historical productions, thrillers, and major streaming projects.
Scott does not personally direct every series associated with his name. He often works as an executive producer through Scott Free Productions. In several important cases, though, he has also stepped behind the camera and directed episodes himself.
| TV series | Year | Ridley Scott’s involvement | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Good Wife | 2009–2016 | Executive producer | Legal drama |
| The Man in the High Castle | 2015–2019 | Executive producer | Alternate-history drama |
| Taboo | 2017 | Executive producer | Historical drama |
| The Terror | 2018–2026 | Executive producer | Horror anthology |
| The Good Fight | 2017–2022 | Executive producer | Legal drama |
| Raised by Wolves | 2020–2022 | Executive producer, director | Science fiction |
| Kaleidoscope | 2023 | Executive producer | Crime thriller |
| Great Expectations | 2023 | Executive producer | Period drama |
| Prime Target | 2025 | Executive producer | Conspiracy thriller |
| Dope Thief | 2025 | Executive producer, director | Crime drama |
| Alien: Earth | 2025 | Executive producer | Science-fiction horror |
| Blade Runner 2099 | 2026 | Executive producer | Science fiction |
Quick answer: Scott’s television work stretches from prestige dramas such as The Good Wife to ambitious science fiction like Raised by Wolves. He has usually served as an executive producer rather than series director. His most direct recent television involvement includes directing episodes of Raised by Wolves and the premiere of Dope Thief.
Key Takeaways
- Scott has worked extensively in television through Scott Free Productions.
- His television credits cover legal drama, horror, crime, history, and science fiction.
- He directed the first two episodes of Raised by Wolves.
- He directed the premiere of Apple TV’s Dope Thief.
- He executive produces FX’s Alien: Earth.
- Blade Runner 2099 is scheduled to premiere November 25, 2026.
- His television career began decades before his modern streaming projects.
What Counts as a Ridley Scott TV Show?
A common source of confusion is the difference between directing and producing. Scott’s name appears on many programs because he serves as an executive producer. That role can involve development, creative oversight, financing, staffing, and broader production decisions.
Scott Free Productions has built a substantial television catalog across American networks and streaming platforms. Its credits include The Good Wife, The Good Fight, The Man in the High Castle, and Raised by Wolves. Other projects include The Hot Zone, Great Expectations, and Prime Target.
Scott has also directed television at different stages of his career. His early British credits include episodes of programs such as Z Cars and Adam Adamant Lives!. Decades later, he returned to episodic directing on major streaming productions.
12 Ridley Scott TV Shows Worth Knowing
1. Raised by Wolves
Raised by Wolves is one of the clearest examples of Scott bringing his visual style directly to television. The HBO Max science-fiction series follows androids raising human children on a distant planet. Religious conflict soon threatens their attempt to build a new civilization.
Scott served as an executive producer and directed the first two episodes. Those opening chapters established the series’ stark environments and unsettling science-fiction tone. The show ran from 2020 through 2022.
Viewers drawn to ambitious genre television may also enjoy Magazetty’s broader coverage of movies and TV careers. That guide examines another career spanning both theatrical films and episodic television. It provides a useful contrast with Scott’s work behind the camera.
2. Dope Thief
Apple TV released Dope Thief in March 2025. Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura star as Philadelphia friends who impersonate DEA agents. Their scheme unexpectedly exposes a dangerous narcotics operation.
Scott executive produced the eight-episode drama and directed its first episode. Peter Craig created the series from Dennis Tafoya’s novel. Apple described the production as a Scott Free project.
The series matters because Scott personally directed its opening chapter. That involvement separates Dope Thief from projects where his contribution remained mainly at the production level. It also demonstrated his continued interest in television directing during his late career.
3. Alien: Earth
Alien: Earth brought the famous science-fiction franchise to episodic television in 2025. Noah Hawley created the FX series and serves as writer, director, and executive producer. Scott joined the project as an executive producer.
His participation connects the television series with the filmmaker who directed the original Alien in 1979. FX officially lists him among the show’s executive producers. David W. Zucker, Joseph Iberti, and Dana Gonzales also hold production roles.
The project illustrates how Scott’s older film properties now extend into television. That shift has become increasingly common as studios develop established screen worlds across several formats. It also gives longtime Alien viewers another connection to the franchise’s original director.
4. The Terror
AMC’s The Terror is an anthology built around historical settings and supernatural horror. Scott has remained involved as an executive producer. The series first appeared in 2018 and returned with a new installment in 2026.
The Terror: Devil in Silver premiered on AMC+ and Shudder on May 7, 2026. Dan Stevens stars as Pepper, who is committed to a psychiatric hospital under disturbing circumstances. Scott executive produced the six-episode limited series alongside several creative partners.
The 2026 installment received strong early critical notices. Rotten Tomatoes listed a 93 percent critics score when checked in October 2026. Ratings can change as additional reviews are added.
5. The Man in the High Castle
Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle imagines an alternate America after an Axis victory in World War II. The adaptation is based on Philip K. Dick’s novel. Its mixture of political tension and speculative history fits comfortably beside Scott’s science-fiction interests.
Scott served as an executive producer during the series’ 2015–2019 run. Scott Free was among the companies involved with the production. The show became one of Amazon’s important early prestige dramas.
Its inclusion also shows the range of Scott Free’s television output. The company has moved between network procedurals and expensive speculative productions. That flexibility became even more visible during the streaming era.
6. The Good Wife
The Good Wife may seem far removed from Scott’s science-fiction reputation. The CBS legal drama starred Julianna Margulies and ran for seven seasons. Scott served as an executive producer through Scott Free.
The Television Academy credits him as an executive producer on the series. He received Outstanding Drama Series Emmy nominations connected with the program in 2010 and 2011.
Those nominations highlight the strength of his television-producing career. Readers interested in major entertainment honors can also see Magazetty’s guide to the meaning and history of the EGOT. It explains how Emmy recognition fits within America’s major entertainment awards.
7. The Good Fight
The Good Fight continued the world established by The Good Wife. The spin-off shifted its focus toward Diane Lockhart and a changing legal environment. It ran for six seasons from 2017 through 2022.
Scott again served as an executive producer through Scott Free. His company’s involvement linked both legal dramas across more than a decade of television production. FX’s Scott Free profile also lists both programs among the company’s major credits.
That long association is easy to overlook beside his genre projects. Yet it demonstrates that his television work extends beyond futuristic worlds and historical spectacle. Legal drama became another substantial part of the Scott Free catalog.
8. Taboo
Taboo stars Tom Hardy as James Delaney, who returns to London during the early nineteenth century. The series mixes conspiracy, commerce, violence, and period drama. Its gloomy visual style made it distinct from conventional historical television.
Scott served as an executive producer on the production. Scott Free’s television credits include the series alongside several other period projects. The result fits his long interest in stories built around power and hostile institutions.
9. Prime Target
Apple TV premiered Prime Target in January 2025. Leo Woodall plays mathematician Edward Brooks, whose research draws him into a dangerous conspiracy. Quintessa Swindell co-stars as an NSA agent.
The eight-episode thriller was produced by New Regency with Scott Free Productions. Apple lists Scott among the executive producers. Brady Hood directed all eight episodes.
That distinction is useful for viewers searching his directing credits. Scott helped produce the show but did not direct its episodes. His role therefore differs from his hands-on work with Dope Thief.
10. Kaleidoscope
Netflix released Kaleidoscope in 2023 with an unusual viewing concept. The crime series lets audiences encounter much of its story in varying episode orders. Giancarlo Esposito leads the ensemble.
Scott served as an executive producer on the project. His involvement placed another crime thriller within the growing Scott Free television catalog. The series also shows the company’s willingness to work across competing streaming services.
For more entertainment coverage across film genres, Magazetty also maintains a guide to classic and modern parody movies. The site’s Entertainment section includes additional television, film, and celebrity features. Both offer useful next reads after this overview.
11. Great Expectations
The 2023 adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is another Scott Free television production. The period drama starred Fionn Whitehead as Pip and Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham. Steven Knight developed the adaptation.
Scott served as an executive producer rather than the series director. The project sits beside earlier Scott Free literary and historical productions. Those include The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End.
12. Blade Runner 2099
Blade Runner 2099 brings one of Scott’s most influential film worlds to live-action television. The limited series stars Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. Silka Luisa serves as creator and showrunner.
Scott is an executive producer alongside representatives from Alcon Entertainment and Scott Free Productions. Jonathan van Tulleken directs the first two episodes. Amazon says all eight episodes will premiere on Prime Video on November 25, 2026.
The timing makes it one of the most important upcoming Ridley Scott TV shows for U.S. audiences. It arrives 44 years after the original Blade Runner reached theaters in 1982. The series also continues the story decades beyond Blade Runner 2049.
How Important Is Television to Scott’s Career?
Television is not a minor side project within Scott’s professional history. His producing credits span network television, cable, limited series, and global streaming services. They also cover more genres than his film reputation might suggest.
His television work has earned significant industry recognition. The Television Academy lists ten Emmy nominations and two wins associated with his career. Winning projects include Gettysburg and The Gathering Storm.
The strongest pattern is collaboration rather than constant personal direction. Scott Free develops projects with writers, directors, networks, and streaming platforms. Scott then participates at different levels depending on the production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Ridley Scott TV shows to watch first?
Start with Raised by Wolves if you want science fiction with Scott directing episodes. Choose The Terror for horror or The Good Wife for character-driven drama. Dope Thief is another strong choice because he directed its opening episode.
Did Ridley Scott direct Raised by Wolves?
Yes, he directed the first two episodes of Raised by Wolves. He also served as an executive producer on the HBO Max series. Those episodes established much of the show’s early visual identity.
Did Ridley Scott create Alien: Earth?
No, Noah Hawley created Alien: Earth. Scott serves as an executive producer on the FX series. His involvement connects the show with the director of the original 1979 film.
Is Ridley Scott involved with Blade Runner 2099?
Yes, he is an executive producer on Blade Runner 2099. Prime Video has scheduled the eight-episode series for November 25, 2026. Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer lead the cast.
Does Ridley Scott mostly direct or produce television?
He mainly works as an executive producer on modern television projects. His directorial involvement is less frequent but remains significant. Recent examples include Raised by Wolves and Dope Thief.
The Bottom Line
Scott’s television career is much broader than his famous movies might suggest. His credits range from The Good Wife to Alien: Earth, with crime and historical dramas between them. Several projects have also allowed him to return personally to episodic directing.
His work through Scott Free has helped connect traditional network television with modern streaming productions. That output continues in 2026 through The Terror and the upcoming Blade Runner 2099. For more screen guides and entertainment profiles, browse Magazetty’s Entertainment coverage.
