Exclusive: Tempus’s Summer Edition stars Gladiator II director Ridley Scott

Filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott shares the story behind his Luberon family wine estate Mas des Infèrmieres as the cover star of Tempus Magazine’s summer 2024 edition. In an exclusive interview, the prolific director – who will release Gladiator II in cinemas in November – tells Tempus how his film career has shaped a lifelong love of food and wine, and how his skills as a director have been paramount to the brand’s success.

Editor’s Letter:

Whether you’re a devoted sports fan or a fair-weather supporter, there’s no escaping the athletic euphoria sweeping Europe during this year’s mighty summer of sport. There have already been some stand out moments from tournaments including UEFA Euro 2024, Formula 1 and Wimbledon, but the event dominating headlines is, of course, the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

With the French capital hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the third time in its history, there is a distinct air of competition and celebration as the world’s best athletes push themselves to the limit on the global stage. Read more about our favourite events and athletes to watch in our special feature.

But the beauty of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is not just the skill of the remarkable athletes at the centre of the event but how they inspire and motivate us in everyday life. Add to that how many star athletes are vocal advocates for others: US gymnast Simone Biles’s mental health advocacy, UK diver Tom Daley OBE’s work for LGTBQ+ charity Switchboard and Comic Relief, or Paralympic fencer Bebe Vio’s academy to promote accessible sport, to name just a few.

It’s no wonder the Games are so uplifting to both fans and casual viewers alike. That mix of dedication to reach the highest level of your field, discipline to train relentlessly and resilience to rise again if you don’t succeed – all underpinned by strong values – is truly a winning combination from which we can all draw inspiration.

Similarly, when I first met our Summer Issue cover star, Napoleon director Sir Ridley Scott, in Paris to learn more about his family wine estate Mas des Infermières, he revealed his own winning method for dealing with the ups and downs of his 50+ year career in film: “My motto is: ‘Just do it – but do it the best you can’.”

In our exclusive interview, the prolific director – who will release Gladiator II in cinemas in November – tells Tempus how his film career has shaped a lifelong love of food and wine, and how his skills as a director have been paramount to the brand’s success.

“[Winemaking] is like making a movie: once you’re in, you’re in deep. Up to your nose in challenges. It’s exactly the same with wine,” Sir Ridley Scott tells Tempus. “We’re all about quality. The competition is enormous; so many people make wine. But there are so many films now, and I’m still surviving after 40 years. I released Napoleon [in 2023] and I’m delivering Gladiator II in November. So, I just ignore [the competition] and focus on the wine.”

Inspired by these global success stories, Tempus’s summer edition is packed with motivating stories, from interviews with new Chaumet CEO Charles Yeung and Coldplay’s Guy Berryman to the enduring magic of the historic Mille Miglia and the next giant leap for space tourism. Find out how Necker Island is leading the pack for regenerative travel, step inside the world’s most fashionable watch manufactory, discover how to future-proof your finances and much more.

Enjoy the issue. 

Michelle Johnson
Editor-in-chief