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Sep 26, 2017 Blade Runner 2049 By Christopher Roberts

Blade Runner 2049, the much-anticipated sequel to Blade Runner, is due out October 6. Warner Bros. is releasing three prequel short films and below is the third and final one, the 15-minute long Blade Runner Black Out 2022, which, as we previously reported, has been scored by Flying Lotus. Unlike the first two, which were live action and directed by Luke Scott, Ridley Scott’s son, this one is anime and written and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe (“Cowboy Bebop”). It’s definitely the coolest and most complete of the three prequels. (Can Watanabe please now make a Blade Runner anime series?) Watch it below.

Blade Runner 2049 features the return of Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a former police officer/blade runner (a hunter of rogue replicants, or androids) who may or may not be a replicant himself, along with Ryan Gosling as a new blade runner who tracks Deckard down. Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival) directs, with original Blade Runner director Ridley Scott returning as a producer.

Warner Bros. are releasing three prequel short films that bridge the gap between the original Blade Runner, which took place in 2019, and the sequel, which, as the title suggests, takes place in 2049. We already shared the first prequel, 2036: Nexus Dawn, which starred Jared Leto as Niander Wallace, who is also in Blade Runner 2049, and was directed by Luke Scott. Then there was 2048: Nowhere to Run, which starred Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy), who is also in Blade Runner 2049, and was also directed by Luke Scott.

The first teaser trailer for Blade Runner 2049 was released back in December, with the first full on trailer arriving in May and another trailer being shared in July. The film also stars Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, and Edward James Olmos.

Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction masterpiece Blade Runner wasn’t a hit with audiences or critics upon its original release, in part because of changes forced on Scott by the studio, including a clunky voice over and a less ambiguous happy ending. But over the years the film developed a cult following that was cemented in 1992 when Blade Runner: The Director’s Cut was released to theaters and now it is regarded as a highly influential masterwork, so much so that we’re finally getting a long-in-the-works sequel. Original Blade Runner co-writer Hampton Fancher has also co-written the new film.

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