October 3, 2008
Overheard on the net: Blade Runner 2 now in the works
Source: Slashfilm
Depending on how you feel about Hollywood’s track record with sequels, this is either the Second Coming or a sign of the Apocalypse.
Movie blog Slashfilm received an email earlier this week that the writers of Eagle Eye were now working on a Blade Runner sequel:
“I recently attended a Q&A session with one of the writers of ‘Eagle Eye’ after a free screening organized by the magazine Creative Screenwriting. During the Q&A, the writer said that he and whomever it was that helped him co-write the ‘Eagle Eye’ screenplay were in the process of writing a sequel to Blade Runner, and had already contacted the producers of the original, etc., etc. This is probably a load of empty words/wishful thinking on his part, but I for one am appalled by just the notion of a Blade Runner sequel, and thought you’d be as well, so I thought perhaps you’d like to look into this yourself and perhaps use your soapbox to get some fanboys a little pissed, as well. If not, then at least you have a scoop.”
The rumor turned out to be somewhat true, in that a sequel script is being written, but by co-writer Travis Wright, who was reprotedly working with Blade Runner co-executive producer Bud Yorkin. No word about Ridley Scott being involved as yet, and the project is being developed “outside the studio and without their involvement.”
Recipe for Disaster? One question that is not answered yet is if the sequel is going to be based on K. W. Jeter’s Blade Runner sequels. Even so, there’s still apprehension about a sequel from Slashfilm blogger Peter Sciretta:
All of this really scares the hell out of me. Blade Runner is one of the most beloved sci-fi films of all time, and it is a movie that doesn’t need a sequel. If Scott had an idea, and really believed it was worth making, then maybe MAYBE. But we certainly don’t need a sequel written by the second teir team of Eagle Eye. Lets hope to God this doesn’t happen.
Even the comments express dismay over number two. I, also, have serious reservations. But until BR2 comes out… IF it comes out… all we can do is hope for the best, or at least hope that Mr. Wright comes to his senses.
Comments
October 3, 2008
Illogic said:
From what I’ve heard it’s not gonna happen any time soon. There were apprently two guys working on the script a few years ago, but they haven’t worked on it since, and one of them apparently said he didn’t think there was a point doing a sequel, since the first one was so perfect.
Sounds to me like the kind of guy we need more of in Hollywood…
I heard all of it over on io9, in case you’d like some sort of source with your rumors?
October 4, 2008
Mr. Roboto said:
Figures. I lose a couple of days of net surfing due to bad wiring (and possibly a bad modem) and didn’t get a chance to look for updates or confirmation before posting.
Hopefully, this project will have a permanent home on the shelf.
Illogic said:
Here’s hoping the same thing.
Though you never know, with Hollywood seemingly having gone into remake overdrive, anything could pop up I suppose…
Adam Daub said:
Oh great, that’s just what we need… a sequel with painful to look at CGI. Given that it’s Hollywood you can expect it.
I can see it now, I’m sure they will cast some fantasticly wooden actor like Keanu Reeves as the main character.
“A replicant, woah.”
It’s bad enough they are going to Hollywood-ize Neuromancer, but a sequel to Blade Runner? *Gags*
October 10, 2008
Nafredy said:
Oh my gosh…..
I am also depressed about Neuromancer making its way to film. In the hands of a private studio these would be amazing but without the proper care I hope that they dont give these excellent titles a bad name.
October 12, 2008
Junkman12 said:
People need to die…
October 13, 2008
Ak!mbo said:
The 21st Century is nothing but a bunch of rehashed ideas from the 80’s and 90’s, a tendency we see repeated memetically in much of the fasion, music and entertainment industry.
Go to any movie theatre and you’ll see posters for remakes, unexpected sequels and comic books brought to the big screen. there are no new bright ideas at play and we turn to old and seemingly safe sources for our cultural development.
however, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot here, relying so heavily on old ideals and ideas we’ve stagnated and were seemingly trying to turn back time to a greater age when bright minds were in abundance and everything seemed new and original.
DJ UNIQUE said:
Didn’t anyone see South Park last Wednesday. We all know what happens when Hollywood picks up a Harrison Ford movie after many years of nothingness. Indiana Jones gets raped and kids, cops, and America are traumatized for life! Sure, it’s not George Lucas & Steven Spielberg but this makes me a little scared…
On a side note, I have like 14 copies of the Blade Runner. They kept releasing director cut after director cut with just a bit more stuff and different editing… Boy was I duped on that marketing trick! (side note to the side note. I just checked my Library, i don’t have 14 copies but I do have…the U.S. theatrical version, International Cut, Director’s Cut, and the Final Cut. bastards’ll get ‘em every time!)
October 27, 2008
milieu said:
The fact that they are “writing a script” means nothing. Hell, I can write a script for Blade Runner II: Electric Bugaloo. Doesn’t mean jack until a studio picks it up, and picks up the rights to do a sequel, and and greenlights it, and funds it. And even then, it’s pretty remote it would ever make it to a theater near you.
November 21, 2008
Black Sun said:
If they make a Blade Runner 2 and change the feeling with a weak script or CGI than I’m shooting myself. BUT with that said, I think it could be done.
I just re-watched Blade Runner and sort of rediscovered it again. It’s almost a perfect film, and it’s pieces are each special and impressive. But it got me to think of a new way of making a sequel. Instead of making it a Blade Runner 2 sequel, you can just create more individual pieces using the inspiration of Philip Dick’s stories. Some pieces could be added after and some before. So Blade Runner would be the heart. And the whole point would be to peer into this world that Philip Dick wrote about. Not just about what who the Blade Runner has to retire next.
Think about how cool it would have been if they showed the Replicants hijack the shuttle back to Earth in the first scene? Well how about just adding it?
You could take it anywhere, because the book had a huge back-story that explained the setting and it had other interesting characters that they could elaborate on.
November 22, 2008
Marc Boucher said:
Why people complain about a second Blade Runner? So now its a master piece ? As I recall that movie barely got is money back from ticket sales.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A SEQUEL , and instead of saying that Hollywood is all about making money, well here is a good example of why shouldn’t they get a bit of money for making the best sci-fi film ever. We owe it to them!
Go ahead, make the movie! and charge twice since we didn’t pay for the first one but watched it over and over.
Black Sun said:
It doesn’t matter if the film barely made enough money. Just because a film does well at the box office doesn’t make it great. I agree though, that they should make a sequel and IF its worthy, I hope they make a fortune off it. But that’s not the point. The point is to make a worthy sequel.
November 23, 2008
Marc Boucher said:
you are right about making it worthy. The problem is, no one thought blade runner was worthy when it first came out.
So what do we hope for now?
another bad movie that will become great later in time ? I am glad I’m not the writer.
Klaw said:
FYI Blade Runner did fail at the box office, thanks in part to E.T. which effectively tanked a bunch of movies that summer… including The Thing, and The Road Warrior. It made all it’s money back with the burgeoning VHS market a few years later and set rental and sales records for years. I agree with the one comment regarding this getting made… it’s a writer trying to get some attention after Eagle Eye… the odds this is getting made are minimal, fans needn’t get too bent out of shape.
December 1, 2008
ttao said:
good point on the bladerunner follow up from blacksun. but it wld take a real creative leap of faith from hollywood to do it. maybe it wld have to flop and then have peeps chat about it on weblogs 20yrs on..