Deadline reports that Ridley Scott has committed to directing and producing another Blade Runner movie, almost thirty years after the release of the first cult sci-fi classic. No details yet on whether the new film for Alcon Entertainment, will be a sequel, prequel or reboot to the dystopic franchise that had Harrison Ford portray a cop hunting down replicants, robots that look human in a corporate-controlled urban future.
MTV gleaned from Ford in July that he hasn’t rejected a return to the Deckard role, and that he was in touch with some of the new film’s people. A new Blade Runner won’t be Scott’s first return to one of his masterpieces – he’s currently working on Prometheus, which an Alien prequel – sort of.
With Scott returning to his earlier works, it seems that the 1980s-remake bandwagon is nearly complete – all we need is a reboot to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and a sequel to The Abyss.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
I’ve always thought that Blade Runner was kind of a tedious movie, but it’s got to be one of the most visually fascinating worlds in science fiction film. With all of the horrible sorts of stories that you hear about that production, it would be kind of interesting to see what Scott would do with a revisit where he has a little bit more clout to get his way with.
And I know you were kind of joking, but I’ve always wanted to see what James Cameron would do with a sequel to The Abyss. He’s one of the few working filmmakers who seems to have a consistent understanding that sequels call for escalation, and with the groundwork that the first film laid…he could easily make something much bigger and better if the drive was there.
Considering the flurry of remakes and reboots that we have been peppered with recently this should news should surprise no one.
However, at the risk of getting flamed and losing my geek cred, I gotta say that I don’t have much of an opinion here. Blade Runner really didn’t do it for me. I agree with Doyle…tedious.
But, that doesn’t mean that Hollywood doesn’t need to knock off this “remake” crap. I’m actually getting embarrassed *for* them every time they announce another remake.
Blade Runner definitely is one of those films that people either like or found tedious. While I enjoyed it when i first saw it in the early 90s, my wife apparently doesn’t share my view.
As for making a new version or a prequel or sequel – while there can be some great storytelling in remakes and sequels, there is also the ‘riding off the coattails of success or nostalgia’ and making crap – i’d rather have energy spent on good storytelling.
I’m with James’ wife. But then, I haven’t seen all 8 versions of the movie, so maybe I shouldn’t judge.
James: I really completely agree, when it comes to the idea of a remake or sequel riding coat-tails. I usually find it heartening when the original film-maker is the person expressing an interest in revisiting the franchise. Blade Runner is a perfect example for me, actually: I put a great deal of faith in Ridley Scott as a film-maker. The idea of him doing sequels and prequels is still sort of new and interesting–and maybe that will change depending on where Prometheus goes–but I also have a great deal of faith in the Blade Runner setting. While I may find the narrative of the original film to be somewhat tiresome, bogged down as it is by an unbalanced mix of philosophy and heavy noir attitude, its world provides an incredibly lush and rich backdrop for further stories. And I feel that if anyone is capable of digging into that and really doing a great job, it would be Scott. Anyone else? Probably not. Neill Blomkamp could maybe do something interesting, or even Duncan Jones, but both of them have said that they’re more than happy to play in their own sandboxes for now and I’m pleased enough with their output to just let them play. This latest trend of returning to, or remaking, aging franchises certainly is a funny beast.
(And don’t let my discussion of narrative fool you: I do love Blade Runner in my own way. It’s still the movie that I absolutely always put on when I want to just sit and stare at some beautiful and inspiring art direction. Or listen to some really great music. Or think about how a film version of Neuromancer should look.)
I think its a quality film, its strength is it subtlety, but if you don’t like subtle films then yeh this is going to be pretty tedious!
I’m interested in this, but I do hope like James says they go with the storytelling again.
Doyle says: “I put a great deal of faith in Ridley Scott as a film-maker. … I also have a great deal of faith in the Blade Runner setting. ”
i do too – i think that this project would be one of the exceptions to the mine-the-past-franchise project that simply wants to ride on the nostalgia. it has great potential.
I have a couple issues with Ridley (or anyone, really) making a sequel at this point.
First off, the movie was set in 2019. They are going to have to throw a date up on the screen for whatever sequel/prequel they make and that instantly is going to be a joke. Even if the ‘sequel’ is set in like 2049 (to push the film far enough away to make whatever world believable) it is still going to be silly.
Secondly, Bladerunner was a stand alone film and I felt that everything was wrapped up as it should be. The point has been made.
Do we really want to get the Bladerunner equivalent of Midichlorians?
Lastly, I have a shelf worth of books that have never been adapted and have great potential. Why can’t he leave his legacy alone and bring something new to the screen.
Alternately, there are plenty of old sci-fi films that failed the first time that have great potential for a reboot.