Although Blade Runner 2 is one of the most highly-anticipated sci-fi sequel since Star Wars VII it looks as though director Ridley Scott won’t be back for the second instalment.
According to Variety, the 76-year-old filmmaker has decided not to return for the upcoming Blade Runner 2… even though it begins shooting next year.
“Per Scott, that Alcon Entertainment production should go before the cameras within the next year,” they revealed. “But with someone else directing (he’ll produce).”
Of course, while a new director will eventually take the helm, Scott was heavily involved in the writing and production of the ‘Blade Runner’ sequel. And while talking with Variety, he gave us a glimpse of what we might expect…
“We talked at length about what [the film] could be,” he said about his work on the script with writer Hampton Fitcher. “And came up with a pretty strong three-act storyline, and it all makes sense in terms of how it relates to the first one. Harrison is very much part of this one, but really it’s about finding him; he comes in in the third act.”
It’s been rumoured for some time that Harrison Ford was keen to return in Blade Runner 2. But while it sounds as though the fans have gotten their wish, it’s likely not exactly the role they were hoping for.
I get the feeling that some fans would rather see Deckard return in force… but perhaps this is a more natural way of creating a sequel in the same world as Blade Runner without leaning too much on the original.
Quite how that will work out remains to be seen… but at the moment, there’s a much bigger question – who could possibly take over from Ridley Scott?
The problem here is that whoever takes over the highly-anticipated sequel will find themselves under quite a large amount of scrutiny. I mean, let’s face it – this is a film that fans have been dying to see for a good thirty years… and that’s a lot of pressure for a new director to step into.
Whoever it is, we’ll find out soon enough. But for now, that secret remains buried deeper than the story of Deckard’s past.
Do you think Ridley Scott is wise to walk away from Blade Runner 2? Who could take over this highly-anticipated sequel? Let us know what you think in the comments below…
