One of the greatest sci-fi films ever made is set to hit the small screen, courtesy of its famed creator. Director Ridley Scott has confirmed that a Blade Runner TV show is fast progressing, with the adaptation slated to arrive in 2023, in the form of a 10-episode series.
Speaking with the BBC on Monday, Scott revealed that the pilot for the Blade Runner series has already been written. “We (have already) written the pilot for ‘Blade Runner’ and the bible. So, we’re already presenting ‘Blade Runner’ as a TV show, the first 10 hours,” the acclaimed filmmaker told the publication.
While the new Blade Runner TV series isn’t the title’s debut into the world of television, it does mark the first foray into live-action small-screen storytelling. Earlier this month, Adult Swim premiered an anime series based on the iconic movie, entitled Blade Runner: Black Lotus. It comes after the franchise was reignited back in 2017 when Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve took the reins of Scott’s dystopian epic for the sequel Blade Runner: 2049. The reboot played off the success of the original 1982 film, which saw Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, an ex-Los Angeles policeman tasked with exterminating a group of violent androids.
Scott’s hyper-colour realism and futuristic visuals were groundbreaking for the time, charting a new course for the sci-fi industry. Villeneuve’s take revamped the story for a modern age, bringing Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas into the fold, much to the delight of fans. Scott will be hoping the new TV series has a similar impact, however, he isn’t relying solely on Blade Runner.
The iconic filmmaker revealed that it wasn’t the only nostalgic title set to score a television iteration. The classic intergalactic thriller Alien will also cop a new series alongside a ‘bible’ of what transpires in 8-10 hours of the show, confirming reports initially suggested in December of last year.
At the time, Variety suggested that the show was being set up at cabler FX, with Noah Hawley attached as showrunner. Details are sketchy, but FX boss John Landgraf previously described the project as “the first ‘Alien’ story set on Earth — and by blending both the timeless horror of the first ‘Alien’ film with the non-stop action of the second, it’s going to be a scary thrill ride that will blow people back in their seats”.
As far as reboots and continuations go, Scott’s portfolio has the power to make it work. The success of revamped Aliens series and the continuation of Blade Runner shows there is still life left in nostalgic sci-fi, provided you get it right. With two new TV series in the works, House of Gucci currently in cinemas and sequel to the Russell Crowe epic Gladiator just announced, the iconic filmmaker certainly has his hands full.
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