Blade Runner 2 Release Date Moved Up
by EG
When a studio announces a change in the release date of an anticipated film, it often means that the film is being pushed back because of some problem with the production. The news of a change in the release date of the upcoming sequel to Blade Runner was better news than that, however. Originally slated to hit theaters in January 2018, the film will instead debut in October 2017, according to an announcement this week by Alcon Entertainment.
The sequel to the 1982 original will star Harrison Ford as detective Rick Deckard, the role Ford played in the first film, along with Ryan Gosling. Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Robin Wright (The Princess Bride) are also included in the cast. Denis Villeneuve (Sicario) will direct and the screenplay will be written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green.
The move is likely a strategic one that will make Blade Runner 2 eligible for awards during the 2017 awards season. The original film won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, as well as an Oscar for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration. It also means that Alcon is not afraid of competition; the new release date is the tentative release date for an unspecified Marvel film from Fox.