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Ridley Scott Confirms He's Directing the New 'Blade Runner' Sequel
by Alex Billington
November 4, 2011
Source: WSJ Speakeasy
It was officially announced just a few months ago that after finishing his sci-fi Prometheus, director Ridley Scott would be returning to his roots once again to direct another new Blade Runner movie. We followed that up with a brief update from the producers on what it might be about, but now we've got some additional confirmation and a brief update from Ridley Scott, courtesy of an interview on the WSJ's Speakeasy blog. He's definitely direct and says "I think I'm close to finding a writer that might be able to help me deliver… we're quite a long way in, actually." Beyond that, he also mentions that it's "liable to be a sequel." Read on!
The new Blade Runner project is being developed by Alcon Entertainment, where they said that it will be a "wholly original" idea from Ridley. Details were a little hazy back then, which is why it's great to have confirmation from Ridley Scott himself, and a hint that it might be more of a sequel than a prequel, since it could really go ether way. Scott also confirms that this new one won't have Rick Deckard in it, Harrison Ford's character, or anyone from the original 1982 film. Speaking of, Ridley comments on how the original was "unpopular" because it "didn't offer a romantic view of the future", with his own theory. Scott says:
"That's why I think I was so unpopular" when the film was released, Scott says, because at the core of the film is a story about mortality. "Even though people think it's a cool Philip Marlowe film with Deckard played by Harrison Ford," he says, "the film is very much about humanity."
I'm very intrigued to see what he has on his mind for this new sequel if it might be, again, about mortality and humanity. So far I honestly think this project is off to a great start and in very good hands - those mostly being Ridley's. But, as the producers said when the news came out originally, "We want people to know that we're very serious about doing this in an artistic way. This isn't just commercial fodder." As long as they can stay true to that, and let Ridley and his mystery writer run the ship, I think this Blade Runner prequel might turn out pretty damn good. We can only hope! We'll definitely keep an eye out for anything else we hear about this and if we find out who the writer is that will be helping him "deliver." Stay tuned!
15 Comments
1
Why not bring Hampton and Peoples back? fair enough not up to much the last few years but cant argue with Bladerunner. Either way cant wait.
tir na nog on Nov 4, 2011
2
Eh...common, nothing wrong in bringing Harrison and Sean back. I hope Ridley is 'lying' and they are indeed in this sequel 🙂
David Banner on Nov 4, 2011
3
Bringing Harrison Ford back would be a fucking awful idea. But I will say that there were a number of narrative strands from Do Androids Dream? that they left out of Blade Runner, so perhaps RD is extrapolating some of that into the sequel. The mortality/humanity part of the quote reminded me very much of the toad/desert sequence from Do Androids Dream?
Lebowski on Nov 4, 2011
4
Well, there were the novels...the trilogy that came out a few years ago written by K.W. Jeter that took place after the movie and featured Deckard, Rachel, the woman Rachel was based on...and even Holden. I only read the first one, but it was good. Still....interested to see how this works out. BR is one of my favorite films, and certainly one of Scott's best works.
Anonymous on Nov 6, 2011
5
There were non PKD books written in that universe? Yuck.
Lebowski on Nov 6, 2011
6
Actually, Lebowski...Jeter was a close friend of PKD. And remember, the universe of BR is not the same as the world of DADOES--although without that book, BR would not have been possible. If anything, track down the first novel and give it a read. If it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, then skip the others.
Anonymous on Nov 7, 2011
7
If you bring Ford back, without using de-aging tech ala Tron etc, he clearly was human and not a Replicant...
Tony on Nov 4, 2011
8
Go with Tom cruise in the lead seat
Donny_86 on Nov 5, 2011
9
Please anyone but him!
Bazzmosis on Nov 6, 2011
10
Stop it. Seriously. It was beautiful. Just leave it be.
Risk on Nov 5, 2011
11
New cast, obviously, and I hope a totally new story. More androids searching for longer life and a detective to hunt them? I hope not. It's the future, why not 'off World'?
Peter T'Sas on Nov 5, 2011
12
Hmmm....well, a new cast and characters could work--remember the BLADERUNNER computer game from a few years ago? New characters and a new story....and it worked pretty well. (Of course, one of the toughest parts of the game was administering the Voight-Kamph test!)
Anonymous on Nov 6, 2011
13
Harrison is tired and he needs to retire. He's been phoning in performances for years. As for Bladerunner, sure, a Ridley-directed sequel could be interesting, especially visually. There's possibilities. Although Ridley has been losing his touch lately too. The original was a work of art (but not perfect). After almost 30 years, I'd like to see what they can come up with.
rennmaxbeta on Nov 5, 2011
14
"The original was a work of art (but not perfect)." Very true. The same can be said for many great movies. And let's not forget--BR was a critical and commercial flop when it came out in 1982. It's only been the passage of time--and the constant cribbing/ripping off/influence of the film that has made it a classic. And I also am interested to see what they can come up with. But they'd better get it done before 2019 gets here...
Anonymous on Nov 6, 2011
15
If anyone can make a sequel as stylish as the original its Ridley Scott. I only watch a sequel if Scott was directing it.
Bazzmosis on Nov 6, 2011
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