The Blade Runner franchise, revered for its dystopian vision of a future shaped by artificial intelligence, is set to continue with Blade Runner 2099, a new miniseries arriving on Amazon Prime Video in 2025. However, this new chapter marks a departure from the past in more ways than one.
While the previous films were anchored by the iconic presence of Harrison Ford, the upcoming series will take the story in a bold, new direction, with a female-led cast and a narrative that leaves Ford’s character, Rick Deckard, behind.
Blade Runner (1982), directed by Ridley Scott, has long been regarded as a landmark in science fiction cinema. Set in a bleak, neon-lit Los Angeles, the film follows Rick Deckard, a former cop turned “blade runner” who is tasked with hunting down rogue bioengineered humanoids known as replicants. These replicants blur the lines between artificial and human life, raising deep philosophical questions about what it means to be human.
Ford’s performance as Deckard became a defining element of the film, establishing his character as a brooding antihero in a world full of moral ambiguity (and giving Ford yet another iconic franchise under his belt, as if Star Wars and Indiana Jones weren’t enough).
Based on Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Blade Runner was surprisingly met with mixed reviews at first but has since become a cult classic, influencing countless works of science fiction and popular culture. In 2017, 35 years after the original, Blade Runner 2049 was released, with Ridley Scott serving as an executive producer and Denis Villeneuve stepping in as director.
Harrison Ford reprised his role as Rick Deckard, while Ryan Gosling played K, a new “blade runner” who uncovers secrets that could change the future of humanity. This time around, the sequel was critically acclaimed – and yet still went on to become one of the year’s biggest box-office flops. Its poor performance cast doubts on the future of the franchise, leaving many to wonder if a follow-up would ever see the light of day.
The Arrival of Blade Runner 2099
Undeterred by the financial struggles of Blade Runner 2049, the franchise is moving forward with Blade Runner 2099. However, instead of a traditional film sequel, this new installment will be a miniseries.
Directed by Karena Evans, Blade Runner 2099‘s most notable change is the absence of Harrison Ford’s Rick Deckard. As the name suggests, the series is set five decades after the events of Blade Runner 2049, which means Ford’s character no longer plays a role in the story.
‘BLADE RUNNER 2099’, starring Hunter Schafer and Michelle Yeoh, has wrapped filming.
Coming soon to Prime Video.
‘BLADE RUNNER 2099’, starring Hunter Schafer and Michelle Yeoh, has wrapped filming.
Coming soon to Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/gUUdDAon9o
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 29, 2024
Instead, the spotlight shifts to Cora (Hunter Schafer), a woman who has spent her life on the run by constantly adopting new identities. Alongside her is Olwen (Michelle Yeoh), a replicant who is confronting the end of her existence. Together, the two women form an unlikely partnership, navigating a world full of deception, uncertainty, and peril.
The decision to go with a female-led cast marks a significant departure from the previous films, which centered around male protagonists. In addition to Schafer and Yeoh, Blade Runner 2099 features an ensemble cast that includes Dimitri Abold, Lewis Gribben, Katelyn Rose Downey, and Tom Burke.
Most exciting of all, the series is now one step closer to release. Evans has confirmed that filming has wrapped, with the current release slated for sometime this year.
Ford’s Departure and a New Era
Although some fans may feel disappointed by Harrison Ford’s absence from the franchise, his departure is in line with his recent career choices.
In 2023, Ford concluded his tenure as Indiana Jones with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The torch was even passed to a new actor in the recent video game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Ford also exited the Star Wars universe after his portrayal of Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) (with Ford stressing that despite popular belief, he didn’t hate playing the character – he just thought he lacked depth).
Before production on Blade Runner 2049 began, there were discussions about moving forward without Ford, with early speculation about his involvement in the sequel. Though producers initially denied the rumors, Ford was ultimately approached in 2014 to reprise his role.
Are you hyped for Blade Runner 2099?
