Will There Be A Sequel To Blade Runner 2049? Blade Runner 2049 Part 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot & News
Blade Runner 2049 was one of the most acclaimed sci-fi films of the last decade, a stunning sequel to the 1982 cult classic Blade Runner. The film, directed by Denis Villeneuve and starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, explored the themes of identity, memory, and humanity in a dystopian future where bioengineered androids called replicants coexist with humans.
The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and won two Oscars for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects. However, it also suffered from disappointing box office results, failing to recoup its production budget of $150-185 million. Despite its artistic success, the film left many fans wondering if there will ever be another installment in the Blade Runner franchise. Here is everything we know so far about the possibility of a Blade Runner 2049 sequel.
Release Date
The sci-fi thriller Blade Runner 2049 came out on October 6, 2017, and received critical acclaim for its visuals, themes, and performances. However, the film did not perform well at the box office and left many fans wondering if there will ever be another sequel. As of December 2023, there has been no official announcement or confirmation about a third Blade Runner film.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Director | Denis Villeneuve |
| Writers | Hampton Fancher and Michael Green |
| Based on | Characters from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick |
| Producers | Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Bud Yorkin, Cynthia Sikes Yorkin |
| Cast | Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto |
| Cinematographer | Roger A. Deakins |
| Editors | Joe Walker |
| Composers | Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer |
| Release date | October 6, 2017 |
| Running time | 163 minutes |
| Budget | $150–185 million |
| Box office | $267.7 million |
| IMDb rating | 8.0 out of 10 |
| OTT Platform | Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Awards | Two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects |
| Plot summary | A blade runner named K discovers a secret that leads him to find Rick Deckard, a former blade runner who has been missing for thirty years. The secret is that Deckard is the father of a child born from a replicant, a phenomenon that could change the world. |
I Love BLADE RUNNER 2049 pic.twitter.com/d4B77LZo59
— Cinema Connoisseur (@MovieEndorser) December 9, 2023
Blade Runner 2049 Ratings
- IMDb: 8.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
- Metacritic: 81/100
A Recap List of the Previous Film
If you have not seen the original Blade Runner, or if you need a refresher, here is a brief recap of the main plot points:
- In 2019, Los Angeles is a dark and polluted city, where humans live alongside replicants, artificial beings created by the Tyrell Corporation for various purposes.
- Replicants are designed to have a limited lifespan and obey their human masters, but some of them rebel and escape to Earth, where they are hunted down by special police officers called blade runners.
- Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is a retired blade runner who is forced to return to his job by his former boss, Bryant (M. Emmet Walsh). He is assigned to retire four replicants who have come to Earth to find their creator, Dr. Eldon Tyrell (Joe Turkel), and extend their lives.
- The replicants are Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), the leader and a combat model; Pris (Daryl Hannah), a pleasure model; Leon (Brion James), a worker model; and Zhora (Joanna Cassidy), an assassin model.
- Deckard begins his investigation by visiting the Tyrell Corporation, where he meets Rachael (Sean Young), a replicant who works as Tyrell’s assistant. Rachael is unaware of her true nature, as she has been implanted with false memories to make her more human. Deckard administers a test called the Voight-Kampff, which measures emotional responses to determine if someone is a replicant or not. Rachael fails the test, but Deckard is intrigued by her and develops feelings for her.
- Deckard tracks down and kills Zhora and Leon, but is wounded by Leon and saved by Rachael, who shoots him. Deckard and Rachael go to his apartment, where they confess their love and spend the night together.
- Meanwhile, Roy and Pris find J.F. Sebastian (William Sanderson), a genetic designer who works for Tyrell. They use him to gain access to Tyrell’s penthouse, where Roy confronts his creator and demands more life. Tyrell tells him that there is no way to extend his lifespan, and Roy kills him and Sebastian in anger and frustration.
- Deckard is informed of Tyrell’s death and goes to Sebastian’s apartment, where he finds Pris and kills her. Roy arrives and chases Deckard through the building, taunting him and displaying his superior strength and agility. Roy’s body begins to fail, as he reaches the end of his lifespan. He spares Deckard’s life and delivers a monologue about the things he has seen and done, and how they will be lost like “tears in rain”. He dies peacefully, holding a dove in his hand.
- Deckard returns to his apartment, where he finds Rachael alive and asleep. He decides to run away with her but notices an origami unicorn on the floor, left by his colleague Gaff (Edward James Olmos). This implies that Gaff knows about Deckard and Rachael and that he has spared them. It also suggests that Deckard may be a replicant himself, as he had a recurring dream of a unicorn, which could be a false memory implanted by Tyrell.
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Everything We Know So Far About a Possible Sequel
Despite the critical acclaim and cult status of Blade Runner 2049, the film’s poor financial performance has cast doubt on the chances of a third film in the franchise. However, there have been some rumors and reports that suggest that a sequel is not entirely off the table. Here is what we know so far:
- In November 2021, it was announced that a live-action Blade Runner sequel series, titled Blade Runner 2099, was in development at Amazon, with Ridley Scott as an executive producer. The series will take place 50 years after the events of Blade Runner 2049 and will explore themes inspired by Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, where humans are genetically engineered into a caste system. It is not clear if any of the original or sequel cast members will reprise their roles, or if the series will be connected to the films in any way
- In January 2022, Giant Freakin Robot reported that a Blade Runner 3 film was also in development, according to their “trusted and proven” inside sources. The film would be a direct continuation of Blade Runner 2049 and would feature the return of Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. The report also claimed that Denis Villeneuve would be involved, but not as the director. However, this report has not been confirmed by any official sources and should be taken with a grain of salt
- In September 2022, Ridley Scott revealed in an interview with Al Arabiya that he had written a treatment for a Blade Runner 3 film and that he was in talks with Warner Bros. to make it happen. He said that the film would be “very different” from the previous two and that it would be “an exciting story”. He also said that he would like to direct the film himself if he had the time and the opportunity. However, he did not give any details about the plot or the cast of the film, or when it would be released
- In August 2023, The Review Geek published an article that claimed that a Blade Runner 3 film was still in the works and that it would be released in 2025, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the original film. The article also claimed that the film would be based on Ridley Scott’s treatment and that it would feature a new cast of characters, as well as some familiar faces from the previous films. The article also said that the film would be a “final chapter” in the Blade Runner saga and that it would answer some of the lingering questions and mysteries from the franchise.
Conclusion
Blade Runner 2049 was a stunning and captivating sequel that honored the legacy of the original movie and added new layers and dimensions to the story and the characters. It also left us with many questions and mysteries that we hope will be answered in the upcoming sequel series Blade Runner 2099. The show promises to be a thrilling and thought-provoking continuation of the sci-fi saga.
