It’s official… sort of. Harrison Ford has officially been asked to star in Ridley Scott’s upcoming sequel to Blade Runner, the initially unpopular but eventually influential sci-fi classic that Scott’s been tinkering with for decades already with one director’s cut after another. Harrison Ford doesn’t seem to have a problem with going back to the well lately – he returned for one (hopefully) last swing at Indiana Jones and will appear in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII – but he hasn’t confirmed whether or not he’ll star in Blade Runner 2 yet. Which begs he question… what if he turns the offer down?
Deadline confirmed that Alcon Entertainment has made an offer to Harrison Ford to return in the Blade Runner sequel, but if Ford isn’t interested… then what? Is the Replicant-hunting (and possible Replicant himself) Rick Deckard the main character in the sequel or is he just an important supporting role or cameo? In either case, will it be possible to make the movie without Harrison Ford? Will audiences get weirded out if another actor takes over the role?
Perhaps this is why Alcon Entertainment made the unusual decision to announce the offer itself, not that Harrison Ford has officially taken it. Not to go down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, but maybe it would be harder for Harrison Ford to turn the role down if he knows all eyes are on him, and that a sequel to what has become one of the most beloved genre movies of all time is entirely dependent on his stamp of approval?
Then again, that hasn’t stopped Bill Murray from ruining every attempt to make Ghostbusters 3, so who knows?
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and the host of The B-Movies Podcast and The Blue Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
