Although plans are still underway for Alcon Entertainment to bring to the big screen a sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner, Scott today reveals to Variety that he is no longer targeting the director’s chair. Having already helped develop the screenplay alongside Hampton Fancher (who, with David Peoples, wrote the original film), Scott remains very active in the sequel’s development, but now says his plan is to serve only as producer with a helmer expected to be announced in the near future.
“We talked at length about what it could be,” Scott tells the trade of the sequel’s story, “and came up with a pretty strong three-act storyline.”
The project, which is planned to go into production next year, should feature the return of Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard. Scott has a few potential spoilers, too, regarding Deckard’s specific role in the story.
“Harrison is very much part of this one,” Scott continues, “But it’s really about finding him. He comes in in the third act.”
Released by Warner Bros., Blade Runner is based on Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” The film was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction).
Scott’s latest, Exodus: Gods and Kings, hits theaters December 12 with his next, The Martian already on track for a November 25, 2015 release.
Alcon Entertainment acquired the film, television and ancillary franchise rights in 2011 from producer Bud Yorkin to produce prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller. Yorkin will serve as a producer on the sequel along with Kosove and Johnson. Cynthia Sikes Yorkin will co-produce. Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEOs of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers.
