It’s official – Ridley Scott will not be directing the sequel to his 1982 masterpiece “Blade Runner”.
Harrison Ford will return to reprise his role as Rick Deckard in the “Blade Runner” sequel, while “Prisoners” director Denis Villeneuve is in negotiations to direct the sequel for Alcon Entertainment. Written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, the sequel is scheduled to start principle photography in the summer of 2016.
The story takes places a couple of decades after the conclusion of the 1982 original, which focus on a man (Ford) working as blade runner who was tasked with chasing down machines replicants.
Alcon Entertainment gained the rights to Blade Runner in 2011 with the intention of making both prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller. Bud Yorkin is set to be the producer on the sequel along with Alcon co-founders Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson, while Frank Giustra and Tim Gable, CEOs of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers.
“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.”
Villeneuve is also the Oscar-nominated director of “Incendies.” He most recently helmed Jake Gyllenhaal in “Enemy.” His next film “Sicario” stars Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benecio Del Toro. and opens nationwide on September 18th.
via Variety and Hollywood Reporter
