The Blade Runner sequel has been running laps around Hollywood for awhile, but caught some considerable steam last year when Green Lantern screenwriter Michael Green was attached to rewrite the script. Since then, the front’s been a little quiet… until this week when Alcon Entertainment made a formal, public extension to Harrison Ford to reprise his role as Deckard in the unnamed sequel. The partial press release reads:
“Warner Bros-based Alcon Entertainment (‘Prisoners,’ ‘The Blind Side,’ ‘The Book of Eli’) has an offer out to Harrison Ford to reprise his celebrated role of Rick Deckard in its Ridley Scott-directed sequel to Blade Runner.”
Would Ford even want to make a return as Deckard? Just yesterday, Star Wars Episode VII began shooting, in which Ford is reprising one of his iconic roles as Han Solo. Depending on the shooting schedule for Episode VII (and any other spin-offs/sequels that may arise soon after shooting wraps), Ford simply might not have enough time to return to the Blade Runner sequel. However, what that film does have on its side is, in fact, time, as the sequel is still in the very early stages of pre-production.
One thing’s for sure: If Ford does return as Deckard, it allows director Ridley Scott to help clear his name after the divisive Prometheus and subpar The Counselor. Personally, all I care about is exploring whether or not Deckard was a Replicant himself. We’ll have more on Deckard’s potential return as more information comes in.
[via /Film]