The ‘Blade Runner’ Sequel Is Official, With A Brand New Director And A Harrison Ford Return

Ridley Scott was only teasing the possibility of directing the Blade Runner sequel it seems. It is happening, though, and Harrison Ford is returning to reprise his role as Rick Deckard. Taking directing duties is Denis Villeneuve, best known for the Hugh Jackman thriller Prisoners. From Variety:

“We are honored that Harrison is joining us on this journey with Denis Villeneuve, who is a singular talent, as we experienced personally on ‘Prisoners,’” Kosove and Johnson said in a joint statement. “Hampton and Michael, with Ridley Scott, have crafted a uniquely potent and faithful sequel to one of the most universally celebrated films of all time, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with this amazing, creative team.”

The film is schedule to begin filming in the summer of 2016, so details on the plot are scant at the moment. It does involve the script that was reportedly “damn good” back when Ridley Scott was hinting at a sequel in the summer. From Deadline:

Hampton Fancher (co-writer of the original with David Peoples) and Michael Green have written the original screenplay based on an idea by Fancher and Scott. The story takes place several decades after the conclusion of the 1982 original, which was based on the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Personally, Blade Runner is a tricky movie to give a sequel to. It’d be easy to just plow along with the same characters in a different story, but the original doesn’t leave too much to the imagination as to what happens when Deckard runs off (other than the recurring idea that he is a replicant).

I’m probably wrong, but I just don’t feel strongly that this is something that needs a franchise. Either that or just set something new in the same universe, preferably without the involvement of Kurt Russell. What do you think?

(Via Variety / Deadline)

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