Harrison Ford Given An Official Offer For BLADE RUNNER 2

It's looks like everyone is courting Harrison Ford to reprise his old roles. Ford was confirmed for a major lead role in Star Wars: Episode VII (possible sequels too?), and is rumored be involved in the next two Indiana Jones films. The latter the actor has been more vocally enthused about reprising. Another 80's retread is also in development over at Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., which is a sequel to the cult sci-fi film Blade Runner.

Ridley Scott was confirmed a while back as returning to direct, with a new script being written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. Ridley has talked about including and reaching out to Harrison to return for the sequel, but it never seemed like sure-thing. Alcon announced they've made an offer to Ford, but aren't confirming it' a done deal.

“We believe that Hampton Fancher and Michael Green have crafted with Ridley Scott an extraordinary sequel to one of the greatest films of all time. We would be honored, and we are hopeful, that Harrison will be part of our project.”

At the moment production start hasn't been figured-out, as Ford will be busy with Star Wars and Ridley possibly with Prometheus 2 (getting rewrite from Michael Green) expected to begin shooting in the Fall or early 2015. It's still early and anything could happen, it's more than likely Harrison will have to turn it down because of other projects. While they could actually work around Ford to get this done.


SOURCE: ALCON ENTERTAINMENT

SPECULATION: Peter Weyland Showing Up In BLADE RUNNER 2?

It's looking like Ridley Scott is trying to connect the Alien/Prometheus and Blade Runner franchises. ThePlaylist has caught an Easter egg from the steel book version of Prometheus that has a memo from Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce) on his mentor. The mentor Weyland talks of is likely Eldon Tyrell who formed the Tyrell Corporation in Blade Runner. Considering the new Blade Runner film has been confirmed to be a sequel it's likely it could focus on the company and replicants in the wake of the death of Tyrell. It's been rumored that the sequel's protagonist will be female and won't focus on Deckard (Harrison Ford).

However, this connection to Weyland could mean we might end up seeing a cameo from Guy Pearce. Considering Runner was set in 2019 and Weyland's Ted Talk was for 2023. It's not hard to imagine Guy showing up or at least Weyland making a play to buyout Tyrell. Yes, there are rights issues here but considering how deeply involved Ridley Scott is with both studios and the creative development of the projects it's possible. I don't see why Fox and Alcon/WB wouldn't want to see these epic sci-fi worlds connected in some way. My hope it's just a small cameo as the film should really focus on the replicants revolution on the off-world colonies.

Ridley Scott Wants Harrison Ford In The 'BLADE RUNNER' Sequel Afterall?

There is very little that we know about this sequel to Blade Runner. What we do know is that originally Ridley and writer Hampton Fancher envisioned Blade Runner as the first of series of films exploring the themes of Dick's original short story. Runner bombed at the box office when it was released so the sequels never happened. Since then it has become one of the biggest cult films of all-time. Hampton is in talks to write the sequel with Ridley Scott back as the director. The film is still a couple of years away with Ridley about to start shooting The Counselor with a Prometheus sequel waiting in the wings to go afterwards. It will be set years after the first movie with a female character as the lead not Deckard.

When rumors of Harrison Ford returning as Deckard starting circling the producers of the film killed the rumor quickly. Now there is word from Ridley himself from an interview with TheIndependent stating that Ford could show up. This doesn't mean it's for sure or even that he'll play Deckard but it's interesting none the less.

"I don't think it'll be Harrison [starring]. But I've got to have him in it somewhere. That'd be amusing,"

'BLADE RUNNER 2' Officially A Sequel Set Several Years Later, Deckard Likely Not Involved

Earlier today it was revealed that screenwriter Hampton Fancher was likely going to be involved in the writing process for the Blade Runner sequel. Now with this new press release from Variety it seems that Alcon and Scott Free are confirming this new film is indeed a sequel and not a prequel/reboot. While the film is still set in the same world created by Ridley Scott back in 1982 it be set some years after the original film. Ridley also announced that the protagonist of the sequel would be female. Giving the impression because of the new direction/timeline Deckard won't be returning.

Apparently Scott and Fancher had originally imagined Blade Runner as the first in a series of films. These movies would explore the characters and themes from Dick's short story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Blade Runner's notoriously harsh production and the film's ultimate failure at the box office killed any hope of these sequels to be made. Luckily, the film found new life when it started airing on TV in the UK and North America along with booming home video sales which has made Blade Runner one the largest cult hits of all-time.

Nothing has been confirmed about the new film's setting or direction. It's possible that the sequel could explore the off-world colonies where replicants are essentially android slaves that are worked until they keel over from a premature death. Roy speaks of seeing attack ships in space as a soldier while Pris was a sex-slave until freed, so there are plenty of different aspects the off-world colonies that could be explored. My hope is that a full scale rebellion by the replicants and their human supporters is sparked. The Tyrell Corporation is responsible for the making the replicants while another company is involved with the colonies and settling them. The Dominguez-Shimata Corporation could very well be the focus of this film.

Ridley Scott Confirms 'BLADE RUNNER 2' Is A Sequel And Protagonist Will Be Female

Another interview, Ridley Scott has the director confirms that Blade Runner 2 is indeed a sequel. He also reveals to TheDailyBeast that the film's protagonist will be female, ending previous rumblings that Deckard (Harrison Ford's character) would be returning. It's the first real detail we've learned about the sequel and that it seemingly won't be just a continuation/rehashing of the original film. Considering how interesting the three female replicant characters were in the original film it's not hard to see why developing a new one could help bring in new audiences.

  “Funny enough, I started my first meetings on the ‘Blade Runner’ sequel last week,”...He continued: “We have a very good take on it. And we’ll definitely be featuring a female protagonist.”

Ridley Scott Confirms Hampton Fancher Writing 'BLADE RUNNER 2'

During an extensive interview with THR about his career and his upcoming film Prometheus Ridley Scott revealed a brief update on the planned Blade Runner sequel/prequel. Ridley confirms that screenwriter Hampton Fancher has be set to start working on the script for the new film. Hampton was one of the original writers on the first film which he adapted Philip K. Dick's short story with David Webb Peoples.

It's important to note that Ridley expects to direct a Prometheus sequel after he completes The Counselor. Blade Runner 2 is likely years away considering the extensive world-building involved with concept artists. The sheer volume of artwork that would be needed to create a setting on either Earth or an off-world colony would be a daunting task.