With a sequel coming to the untouchable sci-fi classic "Blade Runner," fans have every reason to be worried and skeptical about what a followup might involve. But a lot of those fears, if not completely eliminated, were at least allayed when it was announced that Denis Villeneuve will helm the followup starring Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling. And certainly, the director’s passion for the project, even a full year before it will lens, is evident. And he notes, it’s a genre he’s been eager to tackle.
“People were asking me, what do you want to do?" he told The National Post. "I said science fiction, always science fiction. I’m dreaming to do science fiction since a very long time. So now that the door is open, I’m just jumping into it. My soul will be filled if I do that.”
And the filmmaker is certainly embracing the opportunities in front of him. "Sicario" is headed to Cannes and will hit theaters this fall, and this summer he’ll shoot the sci-fi "Story Of Your Life" starring Amy Adams. And after that, of course, is "Blade Runner 2," and Villeneuve makes it clear how much Ridley Scott‘s film means to him.
“I’m ready to do it because the original ‘Blade Runner’ is by far one of my favourite movies of all time,” he said. “ ‘Blade Runner’ is almost a religion for me.”
But perhaps that is also the reason Villeneuve initially hesitated. “Let’s say it wasn’t an easy decision to make, because I’m a massive ‘Blade Runner’ fan, it’s one of my favourite movies,” he told Screen Daily, but again, his confidence shines through. “I was massively influenced, like a lot of people, by this movie. And Ridley Scott is a master. So I’m going there with a great amount of humility and a great amount of deep joy. And I know I can do it.”
And certainly, of anybody who could’ve been tasked to do this movie, we’re really excited that Villeneuve is the man to bring it to life. "Blade Runner 2" starts shooting in summer 2016.