Sony Pictures has come on board for international distribution on Alcon Entertainments Blade runner sequel.
Warner Bros. Pictures is distributing in North America and Canada through its output agreement with Alcon.
Denis Villeneuve is directing the film, starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, who is reprising his role as Rick Deckard. Hampton Fancher (co-writer of the original) and Michael Green have written the original screenplay based on an idea by Fancher and Ridley Scott.
The story takes place several decades after the conclusion of Ridley Scotts iconic 1982 original which was set in a 2019 Los Angeles, and based on the Philip K. Dick short story Do Andorids Dream of Electric Sheep?
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, CEOs of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers. Ridley Scott will also executive produce.
The film marks Villenueves third collaboration with 13-time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins, who will serve as cinematographer, following Alcons Prisoners and Sicario, which brought Deakins his latest Oscar nomination.
Principal photography on the yet-to-be-titled sequel is scheduled to begin in July.
Sony Pictures Tom Rothman said in a statement: At Sony, we have made a strong commitment to the international marketplace. We know of few projects with greater international potential than the long dreamed of sequel to Blade Runner, especially given the all-star creative team Andrew and Broderick have assembled. We are deeply grateful to everyone at Alcon, Denis and Ridley for entrusting us with such a gift. Working on a Blade Runner film also fulfills a long-time personal ambition, as I deeply love and admire the original.
