BLADE RUNNER Sequel Adds Dave Bautista

Development on director Denis Villeneuve’s forthcoming Blade Runner sequel is slowly taking shape, and much to the delight of folks fond of the 1982 sci-fi noir, as well as Villeneuve’s own 2015 action hit, Sicario. Having seen both, I can honestly share in the favoring opinions of those who feel Villenueve is an exquisite fit for the kind of concentrated and immersive telling that occurs, as exhibited in the first film, and will likely make actor Harrison Ford’s own return to form even more ceremonial.

For this, we get a great looking cast that now adds Kickboxer: Vengeance co-star Dave Bautista, who has done impressively for himself in front of a camera with a script. His role currently remains undetailed while said only to be that of an important supporting one next to Ford as well as Ryan Gosling and Robin Wright. Alcon Entertainment provides more in their latest announcement below:

Dave Bautista will join Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford and Robin Wright in an important supporting role in Alcon Entertainment’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece BLADE RUNNER, it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEO’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. 

Director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Prisoners) is directing. Principal photography is scheduled to begin July 2016 and the film will be released by Warner Bros. in North America. Sony Pictures Releasing International will distribute in all overseas territories in all media. 

The film is set several decades after the 1982 original, with Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role as Rick Deckard. The film is written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and succeeds the initial story by Fancher and David Peoples based on Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.  Story details, as well as Bautista’s character, are not being revealed. 

Alcon Entertainment acquired the film, television and ancillary franchise rights to BLADE RUNNER in 2011 from the late producer Bud Yorkin and Cynthia Sikes Yorkin to produce prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller. Cynthia Sikes Yorkin will produce along with Johnson and Kosove. Bud Yorkin will receive producer credit. 

Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEO’s of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers. Ridley Scott will also executive produce. Bill Carraro will executive produce. 

Bautista recently appeared in Marvel Studios’ blockbuster hit Guardians of the Galaxy and the newest installment of the James Bond franchise Spectre from Columbia Pictures. His upcoming projects include Lionsgate’s 2016 action film Marauders starring Bruce Willis and Adrian Grenier as well as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 where he will reprise his role as Drax the Destroyer alongside Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana, due out 2017 from Marvel Studios.