Warner Bros. may not be off the hook when it comes to the negative critical reception of their DCEU releases, including director David Ayer’s Suicide Squad, even with its latest global box office milestone of over $500 million dollars. Either way though, it hasn’t put a dent in co-star Jared Leto’s career, even as news of the eccentric actor’s on-set behavior continues to circulate.
Academy Award winner Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) is set to join the previously announced cast of Alcon Entertainment’s BLADE RUNNER sequel which includes Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Carla Juri, Mackenzie Davis, Barkhad Abdi, David Dastmalchian, Hiam Abbass, Lennie James and Dave Bautista, it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEO’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson.
Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicarrio, Prisoners) is directing the film to be released October 6, 2017. The film will be released by Warner Bros. in North America and Sony Pictures Releasing International will distribute in all media for all overseas territories.
The sequel 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 are not being revealed.
States Johnson and Kosove, “We are thrilled that Jared has agreed to play a key role in the BLADE RUNNER sequel. He is a phenomenal actor, and we know he will create a truly memorable, never before seen character.”
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 and Bill Carraro will also executive produce.
The Thirty Seconds To Mars frontman currently stars as The Joker in Warner Bros.’ blockbuster hit Suicide Squad which shattered several records following its recent $135.1 million debut and just crossed $500mm worldwide. He earned over 60 awards including an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance in the award winning Dallas Buyers Club.