All of us who excitÂedÂly write about Blade RunÂner 2049, the upcomÂing sequel to Blade RunÂner, have at some point described the film as “long-awaitÂed.” Since the origÂiÂnal came out in 1982, that makes a cerÂtain litÂerÂal sense, but the wait hasÂn’t stretched to 35 years withÂout cause. As Blade RunÂner rose highÂer and highÂer in stature, folÂlowÂing it up propÂerÂly grew into a more and more dauntÂing chalÂlenge. But now, as Blade RunÂner 2049 approachÂes its OctoÂber release, the prospect that this most respectÂed of all sciÂence-ficÂtion movies will have its conÂtinÂuÂaÂtion feels more real than ever — and it will feel even more real than that after you watch the short makÂing-of feaÂturette above.
Philip K. Dick, the proÂlifÂic author of Blade RunÂner’s source mateÂrÂiÂal, a novÂel called Do Androids Dream of ElecÂtric Sheep?, recÂogÂnized immeÂdiÂateÂly how imporÂtant the film would become. But its direcÂtor RidÂley Scott admits that he “could nevÂer have imagÂined how iconÂic it would still be” today.
Though he didÂn’t return to direct Blade RunÂner 2049, cedÂing the chair to Sicario and Arrival direcÂtor Denis VilÂleneuve and takÂing on the role of proÂducÂer instead, he does make quite a few appearÂances in this feaÂturette as a kind of preÂsidÂing spirÂit. “Blade RunÂner revÂoÂluÂtionÂized the way we view sciÂence ficÂtion,” says VilÂleneuve. “I’ve nevÂer felt that much presÂsure on my shoulÂders — thinkÂing that RidÂley Scott will see this movie.”
But more than anyÂthing the cast and filmÂmakÂers have to say, Blade RunÂner fans will savor the video’s glimpses of the new picÂture’s aesÂthetÂic, clearÂly both modÂeled after and delibÂerÂateÂly made difÂferÂent from that of the origÂiÂnal. As the title makes obviÂous, the stoÂry takes place thirÂty years after Blade RunÂner’s 2019, and just as things have changed in our world, so they’ve changed in its world — not least in the form of a KoreÂan influÂence that has its found its way in with the JapanÂese and ChiÂnese ones that so charÂacÂterÂized Blade RunÂner’s future Los AngeÂles. “DefinÂing this was like walkÂing on a knife’s edge,” says proÂducÂtion designÂer DenÂnis Gassner, “ridÂing the line between the origÂiÂnal film and what we’re doing now.”
If you’d like to comÂpare the build-up to Blade RunÂner 2049 with the build-up to Blade RunÂner, have a look at its own thirÂteen-minute proÂmoÂtionÂal feaÂturette above. Made well before the time of the modÂern interÂnet, let alone modÂern interÂnet videos, this 16-milÂlimeÂter film proÂducÂtion, which feaÂtured Scott, “visuÂal futurÂist” Syd Mead, and speÂcial effects artist DouÂglas TrumÂbull, cirÂcuÂlatÂed by makÂing the screenÂing rounds sci-fi, fanÂtaÂsy, and even horÂror conÂvenÂtions all across AmerÂiÂca. Few movies, let alone sequels, have built up as much anticÂiÂpaÂtion as Blade RunÂner 2049 has, and even fewÂer have such a legaÂcy to live up to. At least the filmÂmakÂers can rest assured that, if the critÂics don’t hapÂpen to like it, well, they didÂn’t like the first one either.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
The Blade RunÂner ProÂmoÂtionÂal Film
Blade RunÂner is a Waste of Time: Siskel & Ebert in 1982
How RidÂley Scott’s Blade RunÂner IlluÂmiÂnates the CenÂtral ProbÂlem of ModerÂniÂty
Based in Seoul, ColÂin MarÂshall writes and broadÂcasts on cities and culÂture. He’s at work on the book The StateÂless City: a Walk through 21st-CenÂtuÂry Los AngeÂles, the video series The City in CinÂeÂma, the crowdÂfundÂed jourÂnalÂism project Where Is the City of the Future?, and the Los AngeÂles Review of Books’ Korea Blog. FolÂlow him on TwitÂter at @colinmarshall or on FaceÂbook.