Regardless of how some filmmakers feel, sequels are still getting churned out left and right, with no franchise safe from potentially childhood-ruining attempts to piggyback off of your already-established fandom. As far as things go, however, the Blade Runner sequel is looking pretty good.
The project has gone through a number of incarnations over the years, but the parts have started falling into place more cohesively since Ridley Scott stepped down as director (he still holds a story credit and will stay on as producer) and tapped Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Enemy) to fill his shoes. Hampton Fancher, who co-wrote the 1982 film based on Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, has written the new script (along with relative unknown Michael Green—a man whose only past feature writing credit is Green Lantern…), and Harrison Ford will once again play smooth-talking blade runner Rick Deckard (likely alongside Ryan Gosling, who was reportedly “in negotiations” for the lead part some time ago, but never officially confirmed).
Next to sign up for the neo-noir bash is the legendary Roger Deakins, director of photography for The Shawshank Redemption, Jarhead, Skyfall, and nearly every Coen brothers movie since Barton Fink, making him arguably the most substantial Academy oversight of the last twenty years (twelve cinematography nominations and no wins—twelve!). This will mark the third collaboration between Villeneuve and Deakins following their previous work together on Prisoners and the soon-to-be-released Sicario.
Shooting is still scheduled to begin next summer. Our congrats to all cast and crew who successfully passed the Voight-Kampff test.
(via Indiewire)
Header photo: CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 19: Director of photography Roger Deakins and director Denis Villeneuve attends the ‘Sicario’ Photocall during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2015 in Cannes, France.
