Blade Runner isn't really a film that needs a sequel. The book it's based on is a stand alone adventure and the film has become famous for its open-ended ending. Directed by Ridley Scott, the 1982 release is often considered a modern day classic that should be left alone.
Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be happening. Alcon Entertainment has recently announced that it is on the verge of hiring a writer to rewrite a screenplay for a sequel to the film. Michael Green is set to take over rewrites of the as-yet untitled sequel. Green's biggest script to date was on the Ryan Reynolds' superhero film Green Lantern. He has also had a successful career doing rewrites for titles such as Ang Lee's Gods & Kings and Steven Spielberg's Robopocalypse.
Green will take over writing duties from the scribe of the original Blade Runner. Hampton Fancher wrote the original film and turned in a draft of the sequel. Blade Runner 2 (working title) will also see Ridley Scott return to helm the franchise.
The film will be Scott's second time going back to a classic Sci-Fi epic. Last year, the director released Prometheus. The movie was a prequel to his 1980s horror/sci-fi picture Alien.
Little is currently known about the next Blade Runner. The book that the movie is based on does not have a sequel so the next film will be a completely original title. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep was a 1968 novel written by Philip K. Dick.
The book and movie followed the story of androids that don't know they are androids. Blade Runner originally starred Harrison Ford as a futuristic bounty hunter that tracked down escaped Android's known as replicants. The film is well-known for its ending that leaves open the question of whether Ford's character is actually not human.
Blade Runner's production was plagued by issues. Scott and Ford were reportedly upset with the final version of the movie. According to the filmmakers, the final edit was changed by studio heads that feared the movie was overly complicated.
The final release of the movie famously featured a voice over by Ford. Scott and Ford reportedly hated the voiceover which they said ruined the subtext of the film. Luckily for the pair, multiple directors' cuts of the film have been released through the years. All re-released cuts removed the voiceover and increased the movie's run time.
Blade Runner's production was also plagued by the clashing egos of Ford and Scott. The pair's straitened relationship makes it unlikely that Ford will appear in the film's sequel.
