Ridley Scott Talks New Blade Runner Film

While we are still desperately waiting on the first trailer for Ridley Scott's Prometheus which is expected to have DNA/connections to the Alien franchise. There is development on another iconic film that Ridley will be revisiting. Alcon Entertainment (Insomnia) nabbed the film rights to Blade Runner and were pursuing Scott to direct. Ridley officially joined the untitled Blade Runner film as it's director and producer. It's expected that Warner Bros. who made the original and have worked with Alcon in the past will distribute.

Ridley spoke briefly to Speakeasy (via Playlist) about the film. Scott is considering this project a sequel even though Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) will likely not be in it. He seems to have found a writer and gives the impression development is further along than we assumed.

 "liable to be a sequel.....I think I’m close to finding a writer that might be able to help me deliver. We’re quite a long way in, actually."

"Scott says the new “Blade Runner” project is moving ahead “not with the past cast, of course.” No Deckard? “No, not really,” he says."

Some possible writers could include Damon Lindelof (Lost, Star Trek, Star Trek 2) who recently worked with Scott on Prometheus adding massive re-writes to the original script. Another candidate could include Travis Wright (Eagle Eye) who was confirmed by SlashFilm as writing a Blade Runner sequel before Alcon/Ridley ever got involved. It will be interesting who ends up writing because we have no idea what angle they're aiming for. There has been talk of continuing the original dectective noir aspect also taking things into outer space focusing the replicant uprisings on off-world colonies.

Scott Z. Burns To Write New Blade Runner Film?

Twitch is reporting on some progress on the Untitled Blade Runner Film from Ridley Scott. They say Ridley, Alcon and Warner Bros. are looking at screenwriter Scott Z. Burns to work on the film's script. It might be a move similar to bringing on Damon Lindelof (Lost) to re-work the Alien prequel Prometheus. Burns isn't a big name but wrote The Bourne Ultimatum and Contagion. He's also written scripts for large upcoming projects such as Steven Soderbergh's The Man From UNCLE and David Fincher's 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. The fact is that Burns seems to be able to write action well and let's hope the science fiction side of things works out.

Many of the details concerning the project have yet to be answered. Like, if this is a direct sequel/prequel or like Prometheus just set in the Blade Runner universe. If the film noir aspect will be brought up or if it will be a straight up science fiction action film. Along with if will be set on Earth or off-world which had been mentioned a number of times in the original film humans are busy colonizing other planets. Using replicants as work slaves and soldiers in the process of this expansion leading to an outright rebellion by the cyborgs.

UPDATE: Word from ThePlaylist via Twitter is that both Burns' reps and Scott himself are denying the rumors of him working on Blade Runner.  This could be a move by Burns to keep early talks going or Twitch's original story was bull to begin with.

Point Break Reboot On The Way

Alcon Entertainment the company who recently put together a Blade Runner sequel/prequel with Ridley Scott attached to direct is moving on another project. TheWrap reports that they are quickly putting together a Point Break reboot with Warner Bros. The iconic 90's actioner focused on a elite group of seasonal bank robbers who turn out to be a tribe of local surfers and an FBI agent goes undercover to take them down. It was directed by a young Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt Locker) and she knocked the action world on it's ass. Showing that even women can make solid adrenaline/testorone fueled action flicks.

This new version will update the original by replacing surfers with international extreme sports. I'm getting terrible chills of xXx memories with this plot point. There had been a sequel in the works but was nixed when Patrick Swayze died recently. Point Break has a special place in my heart as it was one of the early action films I saw growing up and it holds up pretty well today. Alcon is a decent company and I trust them with Blade Runner, so anything could happen at this point. Kurt Wimmer (Total Recall) has written the new script so it could be interesting depending on the director who takes it on. Since most of the material from Wimmer has been hit and miss.

Producers of Blade Runner Prequel/Sequel Open To Have Ridley Scott Return

Producers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson (Insomnia, Book of Eli) of Alcon Entertainment spoke with the LATimes on the recent acquirement of the Blade Runner rights. They state they're not going for a remake and are open for Ridley Scott to return but haven't met with him yet.

“We haven’t met Ridley,” Kosove said. “but the thought of re-engaging with his artistic vision is very exciting, and [him directing] is something we think would be wonderful.”

"We never would want to remake it — but they do think there’s a rich vein of material for a prequel or sequel, which they will be entitled to make.”

I wouldn't be shocked to see Ridley actually consider the project as it could end up disastrous to his legacy if someone makes a bad film based on the world he created. Curious enough both Kosove and Johnson produced Christopher Nolan's Insomnia a director who I said before would be capable of expanding Ridley's world.

Previously SlashFilm reported that Travis Wright (Eagle Eye) had been working with producer Bud Yorkin on a Blade Runner sequel. Wright going as far as writing a treatment for it. Yorkin just sold the rights so it's unknown if that script development was involved in the acquisition. So there is a possibility of at least a rough outline for another film currently out there. Yet I would expect Warner Bros. to enlist some heavy weight writers to come up with their own pitches as the script is going to be the biggest asset for this project.