Ridley Scott Pulls Out Of Movie Over Brother’s Death

Director Ridley Scott has stopped production on his latest film to spend time with his family following his brother Tony Scott’s death on Sunday.

Ridley Scott announced that he is stopping production on his next film, The Counselor, to spend time with his family after news broke that his brother, fellow director Tony Scott, committed suicide on Sunday, reports MSN. The Top Gun filmmaker jumped to his death from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles at the age of 68. His body was recovered by divers several hours after the jump.

Ridley was spotted at London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday, awaiting a flight bound for Los Angeles. Media outlets later confirmed that he has cancelled production on The Counselor, a film about a lawyer who gets involved in the drug-trafficking business, starring Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz.

The flight to Los Angeles was to reunite Ridley with his family following the tragic news, reports the Huffington Post.

Tony Scott’s reasons for committing suicide are unknown at this point, though he did reportedly leave a suicide note. Witnesses say he jumped without hesitation, leading many to speculate as to why the successful director would take his own life, especially since he had been working hard scouting locations and polishing a script for Top Gun 2 with Tom Cruise. Early reports alleged that his suicide was a response to news that the director had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, though the family has insisted that this is not true, leaving Scott’s reasons completely unknown at this time.

“I can confirm that Tony Scott has passed away. The family asks that their privacy is respected at this time,” Tony’s spokesman, Simon Halls, said in a statement Monday.

Law enforcement officials continue to investigate Tony Scott’s death, and Hollywood mourns the passing of one of its most talented, though lesser known artists.

“Tony was my dear friend and I will really miss him. He was a creative visionary whose mark on film is immeasurable. My deepest sorrow and thoughts are with his family at this time,” said Top Gun collaborator Tom Cruise.

Brothers Ridley and Tony Scott were often collaborators through their mutual production studio Scott Free. They were known for their incredibly deep bond. The two brothers mourned the death of another brother, Frank, in 1980. His sudden death from cancer has been said to have influenced the dark and sombre tone of Ridley’s Blade Runner.