One of the finest directors in film, Ridley Scott, has delivered major blockbusters like the acclaimed horror film Alien which spawned a franchise in its wake and cult classics like the sci-fi box office flop, Blade Runner. Blade Runner is an acquired taste, it’s not for everyone thanks to its meandering long shots and philosophical plot but that didn’t stop the director from helping produce a sequel decades later.
2017’s Blade Runner 2049 was a hit with critics and fans alike but it didn’t exactly perform well at the box office. The film was helmed by Arrival director Denis Villeneuve, Villeneuve helped push the Blade Runner story forward by introducing a new era in the universe with new characters who are affected by the age-old actions of characters like Deckard. The film was criticized by many including Ridley Scott himself for its nearly 3-hour runtime and many have used that reason to determine the film’s financial shortcomings. Despite this, Ridley Scott has an idea for a third Blade Runner and is interested in expanding on it should a studio come knocking on his door.
“I think there is another story. I’ve got another one ready to evolve and be developed, so there is certainly one to be done for sure.” said Scott when speaking to Digital Spy.
Some of the creative minds behind 2049 have stated previously that they didn’t really intend to make way for a sequel of any kind but there is definitely a foundation for a third film, possibly concluding a trilogy. For those that have seen 2049, beware of spoilers below.
Toward the end of 2049, it’s revealed that a replicant revolution is brewing beneath Los Angeles. With Deckard still alive and well and now in contact with his child, we can potentially assume that Deckard may help lead a revolution with other replicants to free them from their torment. Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) is still out there and is likely furious following the loss of his assistant, Luv, and having Deckard escape before gaining knowledge of the location of his child. There’s a lot to play with after 2049, even going beyond LA and moving into the trashed San Diego which is home to dozens, if not hundreds of human orphans used for what is seemingly slavery.
There was also an idea of Deckard going to another country prior to 2049’s script thanks to writer Hampton Fancher but it never came to fruition, he has always kept the idea in the back of his head in case he wants to revisit it.
The only question is if this movie is miraculously greenlit by a studio, would Scott return to direct? Some feel that a bullet was dodged by bringing in new blood to direct 2049 as Scott has been known to come back to his franchises and “ruin” them with new movies like Prometheus and Alien: Covenant which earned mix reception from fans. It’s too soon to say, the only thing that prevented him from directing 2049 was scheduling conflicts with him and Harrison Ford. Ford has stated that if a script was presented to him and it was good, he would return to the role.
Would you like to see another Blade Runner film, possibly concluding a trilogy? Let us know in the comments below.
Blade Runner 2049 is out now on digital platforms and will release on Blu-ray and DVD on January 16th.
