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Let’s face it, if you’re even a casual fan of sci-fi, it’s hard not to show some serious love for director Ridley Scott’s BLADE RUNNER, which many consider to be a definitive genre classic. After almost 30 years, it looks as if Scott may be returning to the film’s roots for a seqeul or prequel. I know, you’re thinkng “WHAT?!?” Deadline is reporting that Ridley Scott is going to produce and direct either a sequel or prequel to his own 1982 classic. The film would be made with Alcon Entertainment, who owns the rights to the original. No word on whether or not Harrison Ford would be involved or if his character of Deckard would play any sort of role. Ridley Scott had previously made a statement that he wouldn’t work without 3D ever again, so chances are this new BLADE RUNNER will be in 3D. Scott is currently shooting the sci-fi epic PROMETHEUS. Alcon issued an official press release below.
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.
So what are your thoughts? Is BLADE RUNNER not considered holy sci-fi? Should it be messed with at this point, even by the man who originally made it? I’m not sure what to think, though this should be an interesting story to follow. Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
BLADE RUNNER opened June 25, 1982
I saw this bit of news and thought, if anyone was to do this, who better?