Updated: First Alien, now Blade Runner. Deadline NeoTokyo is reporting that Ridley Scott has signed on to direct and produce a new Blade Runner film, although it remains unclear whether it will be a remake, a sequel, a prequel, or a wacky romantic comedy that happens to have the same name as is being called a “follow-up” to his sci-fi stunner.
With so little information, except the big bombshell, speculation is easy to come by, but there are certainly a host of pros and cons here. The cons are the usual obvious complaints, and as for the pros, the clearest one is that it’s another opportunity for Scott to head back into that world that’s so loved. In a smaller way, it’s also a chance (like with Total Recall) to do a clearer, more direct take on Phillip K. Dick’s work (even though that probably won’t happen).
Here’s the full press release from Alcon Entertainment, and even more speculation:
Three-time Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott
is set to helm a follow up to his own ground-breaking 1982 science fiction classic “Blade Runner” for Warner Bros-based financing and production company Alcon Entertainment (“The Blind Side,” “The Book of Eli”).
Alcon co-founders and co-Chief Executive Officers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove will produce with Bud Yorkin and Cynthia Sikes Yorkin, along with Ridley Scott. Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEO’s of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers.
The filmmakers have not yet revealed whether the theatrical project will be a prequel or sequel to the renowned original.
Alcon and Yorkin recently announced that they are partnering to produce “Blade Runner” theatrical sequels and prequels, in addition to all television and interactive productions.
The original film, which has been singled out as the greatest science-fiction film of all time by a majority of genre publications, was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1993 and is frequently taught in university courses. In 2007, it was named the 2nd most visually influential film of all time by the Visual Effects Society.
State Kosove and Johnson: “It would be a gross understatement to say that we are elated Ridley Scott will shepherd this iconic story into a new, exciting direction. We are huge fans of Ridley’s and of the original ‘Blade Runner.’ This is once in a lifetime project for us.”
Scott is represented by David Wirtschafter at WME and David Nochinson at Ziffren Brittenham.
Released by Warner Bros. almost 30 years ago, “Blade Runner” was adapted by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples from Philip K. Dick’s groundbreaking novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” and directed by Scott following his landmark “Alien.” The film was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Visual Effects, and Best Art Direction). Following the filming of “Blade Runner,” the first of Philip K. Dick’s works to be adapted into a film, many other of Dick’s works were likewise adapted, including “Total Recall,” “A Scanner Darkly,” “Minority Report,” “Paycheck,” and the recent “The Adjustment Bureau,” among others.
The other big question is whether Harrison Ford will want to be involved. There’s no telling, but when I asked him about nostalgia recently, he joked about being in the business for the money, but he also made it clear that he doesn’t do movies for the memories. Thus, Scott would need something else up his sleeve to get him on board. That is, if he even wants him in the picture.
Which brings up the biggest question of them all: what would you, as fans, want to see in a new Blade Runner?
Related Topics: Blade Runner
