Fanboys Anonymous

Blade Runner, released in 1982, is unarguably one of the most influential sci-fi movies to this day. Its realistic depiction of a decayed future has inspired various movies, comics, video games, and even music. Now, over 30 years since its release, Blade Runner's sequel is finally on its way to becoming a reality, with its principal photography scheduled to start in the summer of 2016.

1982 Poster.

The sequel's initial screenplay draft was co-developed by Ridley Scott and the original film's writer, Hampton Fancher, before Michael Green (Green Lantern) was reportedly hired to revise it. Scott will not be directing the sequel (Prisoners director Denis Villeneuve is in talks with Alcon Entertainment to lead the project), but he promises to remain fully involved with its progress. In an interview with Collider.com, Scott gave a short description of a scene:

"There'll be a vast farmland where there are no hedges or anything in sight, and it's flat like the plains of [Kansas] (...) On the horizon, [we see] a combine harvester, which is futuristic with klieg lights, [because] it's dawn. The harvester is as big as six houses. In the foreground is a small white clapboard hut with a porch as if it was from Grapes of Wrath. From the right comes a car, coming in about six feet off the ground being chased by a dog. And that's the end of it, I'm not gonna tell you anything else."

Aside from this scene description, only a few plot details have been revealed. Rumor has it the film will center around a female protagonist, and it will take place several decades after the original. Harrison Ford has confirmed he will reprise his role as Rick Deckard, a bounty hunter (a.k.a. Blade Runner) who hunts down rogue replicants.

Ford's Deckard.

In an interview with Variety, Scott offered a bit more insight on the narrative:

"We talked at length about what it could be, 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."

With so many horrendous sequels, prequels, and remakes flooding the silver screen, is Blade Runner 2 even a good idea? Personally, I still have not forgiven Scott for Prometheus. Harrison Ford, however, seems to believe this movie in particular will do great justice to the original. According to Scott: "I sent [Harrison the script] and he said it's the best thing he's ever read. It's very relevant to what happened in the first one."

Time will tell. Hopefully this movie won't be like all those other sequels, "lost in time…like tears in rain."