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Blade Runner Getting a Prequel Web Series Sometime Soon

by Alex Billington
June 4, 2009
Source: New York Times

It's not often that I write about something like this, but being a die-hard fan of Blade Runner, I just can't help myself. Over at the New York Times, they have an article announcing that a new division of Ridley Scott's commercials company, RSA Films, has started development on a video series called Purefold. The series of linked 5- to 10-minute shorts will first debut on the web and will be set at a point in time before 2019, which is when Blade Runner takes place. Unfortunately, since The Halycon Company owns the rights to Philip K. Dick's entire estate, this video series will only be "inspired" by Blade Runner and its themes.

"We don't take any of the canon or copyrighted assets from the movie," said David Bausola, the founding partner of Ag8, the independent studio which is developing the project. "It's actually based on the same themes as Blade Runner. It's the search for what it means to be human and understanding the notion of empathy." The series will debut later this summer and the first episodes will depict events about two years into the future. From there, Ag8 will take actual story input from its viewers in conjunction with the website FriendFeed. I'll definitely be checking out Purefold once it debuts, just because I'm a big sci-fi nut. You?

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KenDoll

Wow. Way to shit on an awesome movie.
Marcus

So they have a tedious link to Ridley Scott? Thats not enough. If: 1) you dont have the rights to anything form the film and 2) you dont have Ridley Scott THEN STAY THE FUCK AWAY!
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

Marcus - They actually do have Ridley Scott involved, he's helping produce, as RSA Films is his company he created with Tony Scott. And the Ag8 company is also something he help co-found. He's involved, but in a somewhat distant way, I guess I'd say.
http://www.Ag8.com David Bausola

@Kendoll - Keep and open mind, we have yet to announce how this works in detail. @Marcus - Ridley, Tony and Luke Scott oversee the entire Purefold franchise, the connection is far from tedious. Also, the rights issue will be explained over forth coming weeks - Blade Runner has had a deep significance on today's cultures, communities and society. More importantly - you have an equal say in the direction of the project if you wish to contribute. The NY Times article mentions how to do so.
Timothy

I'm hesitant about this. Blade Runner is one of the best science fiction movies ever alone, can't we just leave it alone?
KenDoll

I agree with Timothy, I love this movie. And I am also open to remakes and revisions of old movies if done right, but this is one movie I wished they would just leave alone. It's great as is.
http://postapokalipsa.wordpress.com/ Micronus

Get a life boys:p If you "love" BR so much, then you just don't have to watch Purefold. It's so obvious...
Moviegimp

If they come up with good stories in that world then it could be brilliant. One request though. Please do not show a young Deckard story. I don't want to know what he did as a kid.
http://www.Ag8.com David Bausola

@MovieGimp Deckard, as a replicant, who have maximum 4 year lifespan, wasn't built until after 2015, based upon the storylines time frame of 2019. There can be no such thing as a 'young' Deckard. Like Rachel, their memories are someone elses. Maybe I'm giving too much away at this point.
http://movies.iconocritic.com peloquin

I'll follow this just for the dedication David Bausola has shown in defending this project against the rabid Runner fans. Kudos for popping on here and settling some of the controversy.
avoidz

@2 - "So they have a tedious link to Ridley Scott? Thats not enough." I think you mean 'tenuous'.
zubzwank

#9, I don't think it was ever proved conclusively that Deckard IS a replicant in any version of BR.
9mm

Yea, i really dont think he is a replicant. Dont know where all the speculation even comes from. I dont remember seeing anything even hinting that he was...?
zubzwank

Ridley Scott has said--perhaps in a crafty way since he keeps preparing "new versions"--that it was obvious to him that Deckard was a replicant. The only "major clue" that I can remember is the fact that, in one of the scenes in Deckard's apartment, his eyes glow with what seems to be an interior light. Well, two comments on that: 1) Which definitive replicant (Batty, Zorah, et al) has glowing eyes anyway? 2) in a world where lights are flashing and zipping around in myriad ways--police spinners, building-size advertisements, spotlights, computer screens, ubiquitous neon, revolving fans in windows, etc.--this effect could be attributed to one of those. Hell, those kind of lighting effects are a hallmark of BR and of Ridley Scott I never believed Deckard was a replicant for a second. If he was, he would have to be like Rachel-no termination date. It is obvious he's been kicking around more than four years. Also, if Deckard's a skin job, then the interesting man-machine romantic/sexual theme is voided.
lando

Blade Runner is in my top 5 movies of all time! I wouldnt want anyone to mess with it but there is the beauty to all these arguments. Blade Runner stands alone as it is, they can try to remake it, prequel it, sequel it, whatever, it doesnt matter!!!!! if it sucks, go back and watch the Official Blade runner, have it blow your mind and shut up! its that simple!!! Ridley actually has come out on several occasions stating Deckard was in fact a replicant, (although why assume he and Rachel have the standard 4 year life spans?) Cmon, how many non blade runner moves HAVENT based their world on BR? I think it would be cool to see stories in that world that have nothing to do with deckard! maybe even see the stories of the REAL man deckards memories come from? there are endless opportunities for some really interesting stories to be told..
nano X

Long rich --and decades stale Ridley Scott -in 2010 -can't find anything more challenging and relevant than to recycle yesterday's techno-circle jerk obsessions?
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http://www.facebook.com/sma92176 Shawn Adams

Ok, so late last night I caught wind of there being talks about the creation of a new movie in the Blade Runner universe. I also learned that so far, Ridley Scott is not involved?! How can you even talk about making a Blade Runner without Scott at the helm? Read More: http://www.shawnmichaeladamsonline.com/2011/03/blade-runner-prequel-talks-where-is.html
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