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Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2049 Sequel Receives a Promising Cast Update

Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2049 Sequel Receives a Promising Cast Update
Image credit: Legion-Media

The follow-up looked lonely, but the new leading actress can fix that.

Summary:

  • 7 years ago, Denis Villeneuve presented his take on the timeless sci-fi feature, which became one of the most influential movies ever made.
  • His movie will be continued in a sequel, produced by Amazon and led by the acclaimed actress, with further details still being kept under wraps.

The history of science fiction movies knows the breakthrough, made by Ridley Scott in 1982 with his Blade Runner, a dystopian tale about the revolt of the human-like replicants. This Harrison Ford-starring film influenced a great number of filmmakers, becoming one of the most cultish sci-fi features of all time.

Among the inspired ones was the Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who was so in love with Ridley Scott’s movie that even decided to make a sequel of it. Back in 2017, the world saw his Blade Runner 2049, where Ford reprised his iconic role alongside the new lead, Ryan Gosling, who starred as the young police officer, hunting rogue replicants.

Despite the fact that the movie was quite disappointing at the box office, grossing just $267.5 million worldwide against a production budget of $150–185 million, over the course of 7 years it has gained enormous hype and been recognized as a masterpiece.

Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2049 Sequel Receives a Promising Cast Update - image 1

It resulted in the studios’ large interest to expand the sci-fi franchise, with one attempt coming relatively soon. Earlier, in 2022, it was reported that the follow-up was in the hands of Amazon’s executives, who would produce the film together with the father of the saga, Ridley Scott, and that the script was already in development.

Blade Runner 2099 Signs Up Michelle Yeoh

We can finally speculate on what it’ll be with the most recent update on the sequel, titled Blade Runner 2099, as its main star has just been revealed. The movie will be led by Michelle Yeoh, the Oscar-winning star of Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2049 Sequel Receives a Promising Cast Update - image 2

While Prime Video doesn’t reveal the details of the plot, it can be suggested that Yeoh will portray an experienced blade runner at the decline of both her career and life. She’s already very much of a sci-fi actress, as she portrayed Emperor Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2020) and the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31.

What Do Fans Say of Blade Runner 2049 Sequel?

The Internet has mostly supported this casting decision, but expressed doubt on the movie’s production crew.

“Ridley Scott is an EP and Denis Villeneuve is not attached to this show. I’m skeptical AF,” says Redditor @Iamakahige.

It’s too early to make any solutions about the quality of the sequel, so let’s wait for further updates and rewatch Blade Runner 2049, available on Netflix , Prime and Hulu .

Source: Variety