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The Blade Runner universe is expanding once again, this time on Amazon Prime. Apart from the original 1982 film and the 2017 sequel, there have already been animated and comic book entries. However, the streaming service is now betting big on this sci-fi classic.
Will there be a Blade Runner 2099?
While the sequel wasn’t enough to justify another blockbuster, a live-action series called Blade Runner 2099 is on the way, which may directly address some of the menacing ideas presented in Denis Villeneuve‘s Blade Runner 2049 film. However, this has yet to be confirmed, but we’ll likely see stories linked to mankind’s uncertain future.
Even though the 2049 movie didn’t reach the same heights as Ridley Scott‘s neo-noir classic, the universe has continued to see new additions, including the animation Blade Runner: Black Lotus and a comic book miniseries from Titan Comics. Blade Runner 2039 also emerged in 2022.
What is the plot of Blade Runner 2099?
Exact plot details of the upcoming series are still under wraps, but it’s confirmed that the story will unfold after the events seen in the original Blade Runner and its sequel, Blade Runner 2049. The series will introduce new characters, including a replicant named Olwen, played by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh, who is nearing the end of her artificially created life. Alongside Olwen is Cora, played by Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer, a woman entangled in the conspiracies of their dystopian world. Rumors are hinting it may have a 10-episode arc.
The Blade Runner universe is rooted in Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” and showcases a dystopian version of Los Angeles set in 2019. This world is populated by synthetic humans known as replicants, who are bio-engineered for labor in off-world colonies.
The plot thickens when a group of advanced replicants escapes back to Earth, which forces the deployment of a special police unit called blade runners, tasked with “retiring” these fugitives.
The sequel, set thirty years later, goes even further into this world. Ryan Gosling plays a blade runner, who discovers his lineage ties back to an experimental replicant and a former blade runner, the first film’s protagonist. It takes up the mantle from the original and explores the replicant freedom movement even further.
Where does Blade Runner 2099 take place?
According to Space.com, the series will be set in Los Angeles in the year 2099. Cora, a character who has been on the run her entire life, is described as a “chameleon forced to adopt numerous identities” to protect her brother.
The series is currently being filmed in Prague and has plans to extend shooting to Barcelona. Filming is expected to continue through the end of the year.
Who is in the cast?
As mentioned, Yeoh and Schaefer take center stage. However, they’re expected to be joined by Dimitri Abold and Lewis Gribben as series regulars, as well as Katelyn Rose Downey, Daniel Rigby, Johnny Harris, Amy Lennox, Sheila Atim, and Matthew Needham in recurring guest star roles.
Is there a trailer?
There’s currently no trailer for Blade Runner 2099 — but for those eager to revisit this rain-soaked, neon-tinged future, check back soon. As soon as the footage is available, you’ll find it here.
Who is the director of Blade Runner 2099?
Neither Villeneuve nor Scott will be coming back for this project. However, Scott is serving as executive producer, just as he did for the sequel film Blade Runner 2049.
Speaking to Esquire, Scott said: “I’m one of the producers.
“It’s all set years on. To me, it circles the idea of Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World.’”
Amazon officially ordered the series last September, which is being produced by Alcon Entertainment and Scott Free Productions.
Silka Luisa is credited as the creator, showrunner, and writer, but the show includes several unknown writers.
Shōgun’s Jonathan van Tulleken is directing the currently planned limited series, stepping in for Game of Thrones alumni Jeremy Podeswa, who had to leave due to scheduling conflicts following the WGA and SAG strikes.
When is Blade Runner 2099 expected to be released?
No release date has been announced, but based on the production schedule, the series is expected to premiere on Prime Video by late 2025. Produced by Scott Free Productions, Alcon Television Group, and Amazon MGM Studios, filming began in early May 2024.
While filming was originally set to begin in 2023, production was delayed to April 2024 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, with official production beginning in June 2024.
Featured image: Warner Bros
