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“It was wrong”: the 2005 movie scene Ridley Scott called “the only real regret I’ve ever had”
Ridley Scott has described one scene in his 2005 epic Kingdom of Heaven as the only real regret of his career: a moment implying that crusader Balian and Sibylla consummate their relationship. He later said the decision was wrong because it altered the audience’s perception of Sibylla, who had previously been portrayed with greater dignity and strength.
The scene appeared in the theatrical release, which was heavily shortened from Scott’s intended version and received a mixed response on release. Scott’s longer director’s cut restored substantial character development and political context, helping to improve the film’s reputation, but he has maintained that the intimate scene itself was a mistake.
In short
- Scott regretted an intimate Kingdom of Heaven scene.
- He felt it unfairly changed Sibylla’s character.
- The director’s cut later improved the film’s standing.
Explained simply
Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic film directed by Ridley Scott, set during the Crusades and centring on a character named Balian. The film was released in two versions: a shorter theatrical cut that appeared in cinemas and a longer director's cut released later on home video.
Scott has stated that one scene in particular was a mistake: a moment depicting an intimate encounter between the characters Balian and Sibylla. He believes this scene was wrong because it changed how audiences perceived Sibylla, undermining the dignity and strength that had defined her character to that point.
The theatrical version was heavily shortened from what Scott originally intended, and the film received mixed reviews on its initial release. The director's cut later restored much of the character development and historical context, which improved its reputation. However, Scott has maintained that the intimate scene itself remains a regrettable decision, regardless of which version one watches.