The Blade Runner franchise continues to expand. Deadline reports Amazon Studios is developing a live-action TV series that serves as a sequel to Blade Runner 2049. That film itself was a sequel to 1982’s Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford in one of his most iconic roles. The 2017 movie brought back familiar characters and introduced Ryan Gosling’s K, a replicant. This TV series will pick up in the future; it’s titled Blade Runner 2099. Ridley Scott will executive produce the show.
Blade Runner has, of course, visited the small screen already. Blade Runner: Black Lotus, a Japanese-American anime series, premiered on Adult Swim last year. That series focused on a female replicant, Elle. But Blade Runner 2099 would mark the first time a live-action Blade Runner story has come to TV.
We don’t have any plot details yet. Blade Runner 2099 is still in development after all. The title states the time period, putting this show 50 years after Blade Runner 2049. We imagine this story will also take place in Los Angeles, but we’d be curious to spend more time in another city too.
Deadline reports Amazon Studios is “fast tracking scripts and eyeing potential production dates.” They’re looking for staff too. And even though Denis Villeneuve helmed Blade Runner 2049, Ridley Scott could step up in a directing role here. He seems quite invested in the project. Back in November, Scott mentioned the project to BBC Radio 4’s Today. He said, “We’re already into having written the pilot for Blade Runner and the bible, so we’re already presenting Blade Runner as a TV show, which will probably be the first 10 hours.”
We’ll keep you posted as we learn more about Blade Runner 2099 and when/if it gets a formal greenlight from Amazon Studios.
Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.