Fans of the 1982 classic, "Blade Runner", should worry no more about the upcoming new movie in the franchise, as Ridley Scott, who also directed the original movie, has now joined the project. From the first moment, the announcement that Alcon Entertainment and Warner Brothers acquired the rights for the "Blade Runner" franchise, with intentions to develop a series of movies that take place within the universe of the sci-fi classic, was made, it was not met with enthusiasm. Now, there's new hope to be found with Ridley Scott stepping in as director and producer on the project. The official press release and more after the jump.
The original "Blade Runner" is an ultra-stylized sci-fi thriller based on Phillip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ?". The story takes place in a futuristic Los Angeles, where blade runners, a special kind of bounty hunters, track down and eliminate replicants, androids with a limited life-span, built by a mega-corporation for industrial use. The movie wasn't a big hit when it came out in 1982, considered by critics to be nothing more than a visual effects extravaganza and it was nominated for two Oscars, Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. However, in time it succeeded in achieving cult status, influenced the look of many similar futuristic works and is now considered one of the best science fiction movies ever made. The movie's famous designs were the work of concept artist/visual futurist Syd Mead, who also worked on other sci-fi classics like "Tron" and "Aliens". Equaly famous is the original score, composed by Vangelis. Check out a trailer for the original "Blade Runner" below :
It is unclear, for now, whether or not Alcon Entertainment and Ridley Scott intend to add a sequel, a prequel, or just a spin-off to the franchise, but recently, producers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove declared that the movie is a "total reinvention", hinting that Harrison Ford will not return to the franchise. The term "reinvention" could also mean that they're going to leave much of the original movie's plot behind. Who knows, they might even go for a different city, perhaps a futuristic New York ? Since Ridley Scott is currently busy finishing up "Prometheus", a prequel/spin-off of the "Alien" franchise, for next year, the producers say that filming will not start earlier than 2013. Below you can read the official press release from Alcon Entertainment :
The original "Blade Runner" is an ultra-stylized sci-fi thriller based on Phillip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ?". The story takes place in a futuristic Los Angeles, where blade runners, a special kind of bounty hunters, track down and eliminate replicants, androids with a limited life-span, built by a mega-corporation for industrial use. The movie wasn't a big hit when it came out in 1982, considered by critics to be nothing more than a visual effects extravaganza and it was nominated for two Oscars, Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. However, in time it succeeded in achieving cult status, influenced the look of many similar futuristic works and is now considered one of the best science fiction movies ever made. The movie's famous designs were the work of concept artist/visual futurist Syd Mead, who also worked on other sci-fi classics like "Tron" and "Aliens". Equaly famous is the original score, composed by Vangelis. Check out a trailer for the original "Blade Runner" below :It is unclear, for now, whether or not Alcon Entertainment and Ridley Scott intend to add a sequel, a prequel, or just a spin-off to the franchise, but recently, producers Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove declared that the movie is a "total reinvention", hinting that Harrison Ford will not return to the franchise. The term "reinvention" could also mean that they're going to leave much of the original movie's plot behind. Who knows, they might even go for a different city, perhaps a futuristic New York ? Since Ridley Scott is currently busy finishing up "Prometheus", a prequel/spin-off of the "Alien" franchise, for next year, the producers say that filming will not start earlier than 2013. Below you can read the official press release from Alcon Entertainment :
ALCON ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERING WITH RIDLEY SCOTT TO DIRECT AND PRODUCE NEW ‘BLADE RUNNER’ FOLLOW UP. BUD YORKIN AND CYNTHIA SIKES YORKIN ALSO TO PRODUCE.
LOS ANGELES, CA, AUGUST 18, 2011 — 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.
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