Its official, Ridley Scott is returning to Blade Runner, the director will make another film based in the world of his iconic 1982 film for Warners-based Alcon Entertainment, the Hollywood company that had previously acquired rights to the first movie. The original film, adapted from Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, established a new template in its genre & largely influenced film for the next thirty years in its depiction of a dystopian future. The yet untitled movie is described as a "follow-up" to the 1982 film, the filmmakers have not yet revealed whether it will function as a prequel or a sequel to the original. A screenwriter is expected to be hired shortly & the aim is to enter production in 2013, Alcon stated they expect Scott to make a movie that stood apart from the original. "Everything Ridley does as a filmmaker is fresh," said Andrew Kosove. "I believe he sees an opportunity to create something that's wholly original from the first Blade Runner." Scott just recently completed shooting Prometheus, a follow-up to yet another one of his early classics, a new take on the 1979 Alien, which arrives in June. So will we see Harrison Ford return to reprise his role of Richard Deckard for the film? Probably not as Kosgrove stated to 24 Frames "In no way do I speak for Ridley Scott, but if you’re asking me will this movie have anything to do with Harrison Ford, the answer is no. This is a total reinvention, and in my mind that means doing everything fresh, including casting." Hit the jump for the press release.
Press Release: 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.
