Ridley Scott: Humans Could Never Survive an Encounter With Extraterrestrials

No Time to Hear You Scream

Ridley Scott has built himself a rather formidable career in Hollywood. He's directed some of the biggest titles in science fiction, including the Oscar-nominated films "The Martian" and "Blade Runner," and he was responsible for beginning the successful "Alien" franchise. Now, in anticipation of the next installment of that series, "Alien: Covenant," Scott is adding Apocalypse Speculator to his list of job titles.

In an interview with Sky News, the director stated that he does think intelligent aliens are out there in the universe. "I believe in superior beings. I think it is certainly likely," he explained. He went on to say that our only appropriate response to visiting extraterrestrials is to run and hide. "So when you see a big thing in the sky, run for it," he said. "Because they are a lot smarter than we are, and if you are stupid enough to challenge them, you will be taken out in three seconds."

First and Final Contact

Scott is not alone in this sentiment. Several experts agree that any alien lifeforms intelligent enough to make it to Earth are not likely to take too kindly to us measly humans.

To that end, Stephen Hawking doesn't think we should be attempting to make first contact. “One day we might receive a signal from a planet like Gliese 832c, but we should be wary of answering back,” says Hawking in the short film “Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places.” He goes on to compare aliens coming to Earth to Europeans coming to the New World. In short, Hawking asserts that it “didn’t turn out so well” for the native inhabitants.

Even without alien contact, some experts believe that we will sow our own destruction. Both Lord Martin Rees and Hawking see the development of artificial intelligence (AI) as a greater threat to the survival of our species. In Rees' mind, "The period of time occupied by organic intelligence is just a thin sliver between early life and the long era of the machines.” If that's the case, we might as well enjoy the time we have with a good sci-fi flick.