Why You Should Be Excited for ‘Blade Runner 2049’

Drew Dietsch
Movies
Movies

Blade Runner 2049 is one of the most anticipated sequels of all time. The original film was a game-changer in terms of world-building and production design. Now, we’re getting a sequel that is aiming to recapture some of that magic. We couldn’t be more excited! Here are a few reasons why you should be as pumped for Blade Runner 2049 as we are.

The Director

blade runner 2049 denis villeneuve roger deakins

Denis Villeneuve is one of the best directors working today. Between Sicario and Arrival, he has proven to be a powerful directorial force. Along with legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins, Villeneuve’s chilly but impacting visual style is a perfect fit for the world of Blade Runner. His position as director also shows that the studio isn’t treating this sequel as a throwaway cash grab. Villeneuve is a true artist.

The Cast

One of Blade Runner‘s greatest strengths was its cast. Blade Runner 2049 recognized this and decided to fill its ranks with some real heavy hitters. Not only do we see the return of Harrison Ford as Deckard, but we’re getting Ryan Gosling as a co-lead. Gosling is an undeniable talent and rarely attaches himself to a project unless he has a lot of faith in the material. We’ll also be seeing turns from Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, and Jared Leto in this sequel. Needless to say, this is a movie where the players match the film’s potential.

The Score

Vangelis‘s score for Blade Runner is as classic as the film itself. The synth noir feel is one of the most integral elements of the original. Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson had worked on the project, but he’s out now, replaced by Hans Zimmer. And while Zimmer certainly has some big shoes to fill but he’s got the credentials to do so. Zimmer is known for integrating electronic music sounds alongside traditional orchestral arrangements, and we can’t wait to see what he does with this.

The Technology

While the tech of the Blade Runner universe probably won’t change too much, it’s the filmmaking technology we’re talking about. Blade Runner 2049 has an abundance of cutting-edge technology at its disposal. Granted, the sequel will certainly have lots of great practical effects but think about director Denis Villeneuve’s most recent film, Arrival. The amazing blend of digital and practical effects in that film are jaw-dropping. And from what we’ve seen it looks like the same attention to visual detail has been spent on Blade Runner 2049.  It could go down as one of the best sci-fi films of all time.

Blade Runner 2049 opens in theaters on October 6, 2017 (October 5 in Malaysia and Singapore).

Drew Dietsch
Drew Dietsch has been professionally writing about entertainment for over a decade. His bylines include FANDOM - where he was a founding contributor and Entertainment Editor - Bloody Disgusting, SYFY WIRE, and more. He created and hosts GenreVision, a weekly film discussion show at genrevision.com.