With Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford heading up an all-star cast, Blade Runner sequel Blade Runner 2049 will be hitting movie theaters later this year. From director Denis Villeneuve and writers Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, not much is known about the movie’s plot, but an array of big names have been linked to the sequel, which comes 35 years after the original.
Taking place 30 years after the first film’s events, there’s a new blade runner on the scene in the form of LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling). Harrison Ford will, of course, be returning in his role of Rick Deckard, whilst Jared Leto, Lennie James, Robin Wright and Dave Bautista are amongst the other announced members of the cast.
Despite his role being kept very closely under wraps, wrestler-turned-actor Bautista isn’t afraid to make some bold claims ahead of the film’s release. Speaking to ABS CBN News, he said:
“I think it’s going to be – and this is hard to say because I know I’m going to get some grief for this – I think it’s going to be better than the first film. And I’m saying that because I think the script is better, it’s deeper. I think it’s a better story, I think it’s told in a better way, and I think it just answers a lot of questions. It’s going to be great.”
Exactly what that story may be remains to be seen, but what we do know is Gosling’s character, Officer K, will be on an urgent search for Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford. Discovering a secret that’s been long-buried and realizing society is at threat, Officer K is flung onto a mission that will send the blade runner into unexpected territory.
As Bautista says himself, a claim like this is going to be widely scrutinized, especially when a film as culturally adored as Blade Runner is in question. Though it was an under-performer at the time of its release, the movie has gone on to become a cult classic, weaving a variety of different genres such as hardboiled noir and science fiction together to create something truly special.
Of course, the proof will be in the pudding when Blade Runner 2049 hits the big screen this October. All of the right ingredients are there to ensure that the film has the pulling power needed to hit big box office numbers, but it will rest with fans to decide whether or not the storyline, performances and combining elements come together to make something special.
Source: ABS CBN News
