Blade Runner 2 has finally been confirmed and Harrison Ford will return to the role of Rick Deckard.
Although a Blade Runner sequel has been in the works for some time, it looks as though the film has finally been given the go ahead. And with Harrison Ford returning, it’s undoubtedly the sci-fi sequel we’ve all been waiting for.
But what does this all mean for Deckard?
According to the official press release, Harrison Ford will be back as Rick Deckard… and they’ve even lined up an all-new director to take over from Ridley Scott.
“Harrison Ford will reprise his celebrated role of Rick Deckard in the sequel to Alcon Entertainment’s Blade Runner and Academy Award nominee Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Incendies) is in negotiations to direct.”
“The story takes place several decades after the conclusion of the 1982 original.”
Of course, Denis Villeneuve seems like a natural choice to take over from Ridley Scott… after all, his 2013 film Prisoners is a firm noir favourite. And rightly so – with its low-key lighting and gritty subject matter, it rediscovers what noir really means.
And that’s the perfect style for a Blade Runner sequel.
“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,” said Alcon co-founders Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. “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.”
But what does this mean for Deckard?
Blade Runner has long been a film with hidden meaning… and it was only when the Director’s Cut was released in 1991 that the studio-imposed happy ending was removed. And with the addition of the ‘unicorn scene’ it was strongly hinted that Deckard was, in fact, a replicant himself.
Of course, as we know from the movie, Nexus 6 replicants have a shelf-life of four years. Does this mean that Deckard isn’t a replicant after all? I can’t help thinking that perhaps there’s more to it than that.
Has Deckard found a way to extend his own lifespan? Perhaps he was created as an all-new line of replicants without the limitations of their predecessors?
For now, we’ll have to wait and see… but whatever happens, it’s incredible to think that Harrison Ford will be bringing back some of the old Blade Runner magic.
Blade Runner 2 begins filming in 2016.
What do you think of Harrison Ford’s Blade Runner return? Will Deckard still be a replicant? Let us know what you think in the comments below…
