Sony Pictures will internationally distribute the sequel to Ridley Scott‘s 1982 iconic film, BLADE RUNNER Alcon Entertainment announced Monday.
Denis Villeneuve is directing the sequel, which will also star Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, who will reprise his role as Rick Deckard. Hampton Fancher (co-writer of the original) and Michael Green wrote the original screenplay, and the story takes place several decades after the conclusion of the first film.
Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEO’s of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers. Ridley Scott will also executive produce the film which begins shooting in July, with Warner Bros. distributing the picture stateside and Sony around the globe.
The film marks Villenueve’s third collaboration with 13-time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins, who will serve as cinematographer, following Alcon’s PRISONERS and the hit drug-trafficking drama SICARIO, which brought Deakins his latest Oscar nomination.
“At Sony, we have made a strong commitment to the international marketplace,” said chairman of Sony Picture Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group Tom Rothman. “We know of few projects with greater international potential than the long dreamed of sequel to Blade Runner, especially given the all-star creative team Andrew and Broderick have assembled. We are deeply grateful to everyone at Alcon, Denis and Ridley for entrusting us with such a gift. Working on a ‘Blade Runner’ film also fulfills a long-time personal ambition, as I deeply love and admire the original.”
The original 1982 BLADE RUNNER was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction, and in 1993 was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
