History of Blade Runner 2049 in Timeline
Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve, is a neo-noir science fiction film and a sequel to the original Blade Runner. Set in a dystopian future, Officer K (Ryan Gosling), a blade runner, discovers a secret about replicant reproduction that could shatter the fragile balance between humans and replicants. His investigation leads him to Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who has been missing for decades. Together, they navigate a world of corporate control, existential questions, and the blurred lines between humanity and artificial intelligence, grappling with the potential consequences of their findings on society.
1 day ago : Blade Runner 2049's ending, 'Project Hail Mary' debate, and the real science revealed.
Analysis of Blade Runner 2049's ending and its meaning, the online debate about Project Hail Mary and the science that inspires the story.
1968: Publication of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
In 1968, Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was published. Licensing disputes over the novel had deterred the creation of sequels to Blade Runner (1982) for many years.
1980: Release of The Shining
In 1980, The Shining was released. Steven Spielberg opted to replace the Blade Runner scene with one based on The Shining in Ready Player One owing to his friendship with Stanley Kubrick.
1982: Release of Blade Runner
In 1982, the original Blade Runner film was released, preceding the events and characters that would later be revisited in the 2017 sequel, Blade Runner 2049, with Harrison Ford reprising his role as Rick Deckard.
August 2011: Ridley Scott Signed as Director
In August 2011, Alcon announced that Ridley Scott had signed on as the film's director for Blade Runner 2049. Michael Green and Hampton Fancher were assigned to write the script.
2012: IMAX Master Creation Similar to Skyfall
In 2012, cinematographer Roger Deakins created his own IMAX master of the film "Skyfall", setting a precedent for his approach to "Blade Runner 2049".
2013: Release of House of Cards
From 2013, Robin Wright was acting in House of Cards, which stalled negotiations for Blade Runner 2049.
2013: Villeneuve and Alcon collaboration on Prisoners
In 2013, Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve collaborated with Alcon Entertainment on Prisoners, building a professional relationship that would lead to Villeneuve directing Blade Runner 2049.
2013: Comparison to Her Sex Scene
In 2013, Esquire magazine compared the "robo-ménage à trois" sex scene in Blade Runner 2049 to the sex scene in the movie Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson.
2014: Initial Approach to Harrison Ford
In 2014, Harrison Ford was first approached for a part in Blade Runner 2049. Alcon did not publicly announce their signing until the following year.
2015: Release of Sicario
In 2015, Sicario was released. Blade Runner 2049 is the third Deakins–Villeneuve collaboration after Prisoners and Sicario.
2015: Scott's Interest in Additional Films
In 2015, during the promotional tour for The Martian, Scott expressed his interest in making additional Blade Runner films.
April 2016: Location Scouting Begins
In April 2016, the filmmakers began location scouting for Blade Runner 2049, touring London, Hungary and Slovakia.
July 2016: Casting Announcements
In July 2016, Dave Bautista, Hiam Abbass, and Lennie James' castings were revealed for Blade Runner 2049. Robin Wright's involvement had been rumored for weeks.
October 2016: Blade Runner 2049 Title Announcement
In early October 2016, Warner Bros. announced that the film would be titled "Blade Runner 2049".
November 2016: Principal photography of Blade Runner 2049
In November 2016, principal photography of Blade Runner 2049 wrapped up after four months of filming mostly at two soundstages in Budapest.
December 19, 2016: Announcement Teaser Release
On December 19, 2016, Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures jointly released an announcement teaser for "Blade Runner 2049".
2016: Ana de Armas in Hands of Stone
In 2016, Ana de Armas shot for her first Hollywood film, Hands of Stone, before settling in Los Angeles to pursue a role that did not typecast her ethnicity, eventually landing the female lead in Blade Runner 2049.
2016: Gosling's Press Junket for La La Land
In 2016, Gosling's obligation to fulfill a New York City press junket for La La Land complicated the Blade Runner 2049 shoot, but his scenes were filmed in time for Thanksgiving.
2016: Leto Cast After Suicide Squad
In 2016, after filming Suicide Squad, Jared Leto was cast in Blade Runner 2049. Villeneuve considered David Bowie, one of the franchise's core influences, for the part of Niander Wallace until the musician died months prior to filming.
2016: Villeneuve Editing Arrival
In 2016, as Villeneuve was editing his science fiction drama Arrival, he, Deakins, and Gassner brainstormed ideas for the visual palette of Blade Runner 2049.
May 5, 2017: Trailer Tease Release
On May 5, 2017, a selection of excerpts (lasting 15 seconds) were released as a trailer tease in the lead-up to the full trailer for "Blade Runner 2049".
May 8, 2017: Full Trailer Release
On May 8, 2017, the full trailer for "Blade Runner 2049" was released.
July 2017: Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch Join Blade Runner 2049
In July 2017, Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch joined the "Blade Runner 2049" project as composers after Jóhann Jóhannsson's departure.
July 17, 2017: Second Trailer Release
On July 17, 2017, a second trailer for "Blade Runner 2049" was released.
September 2017: Fan Anticipation Survey
In September 2017, a survey from Fandango indicated that the film was one of the most anticipated releases of the season.
October 3, 2017: Blade Runner 2049 Premiere in Los Angeles
On October 3, 2017, "Blade Runner 2049" premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The red carpet events were canceled following the 2017 Las Vegas Strip shooting.
October 3, 2017: Premiere of Blade Runner 2049
On October 3, 2017, Blade Runner 2049 premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The film received critical acclaim but was a box office flop.
October 4, 2017: International Premieres of Blade Runner 2049
On October 4, 2017, "Blade Runner 2049" was the opening feature at the Festival du nouveau cinéma in Montreal and also premiered at the Zurich Film Festival in Switzerland. Sony Pictures Releasing began releasing the film internationally in France and Belgium.
October 6, 2017: North American Release and VR Content Launch
On October 6, 2017, "Blade Runner 2049" was released in North America by Warner Bros. Alcon Entertainment partnered with Oculus VR to launch "Blade Runner: Revelations", a virtual reality experience, alongside the theatrical release.
October 2017: Villeneuve on Third Film
In October 2017, Villeneuve stated that he expected a third film to be made if Blade Runner 2049 was successful.
November 2017: Projected Losses for Alcon Entertainment
In November 2017, The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "Blade Runner 2049" was expected to lose Alcon as much as $80 million, as the film needed to gross around $400 million to break even.
2017: San Diego Comic-Con Presentation
At the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con, Villeneuve announced that "Blade Runner 2049" would run for two hours and 32 minutes.
2017: Release of Blade Runner 2049
In 2017, Blade Runner 2049, an American epic neo-noir science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve, was released. The film, a sequel to Blade Runner (1982), stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. Ford reprises his role from the previous film as Rick Deckard. Gosling plays K, a "blade runner" who uncovers a secret that threatens to destabilize society.
2017: Release of Alien: Covenant
In 2017, Ridley Scott resigned from his duties as director for Blade Runner 2049 because of his commitment to Alien: Covenant, retaining partial oversight as an executive producer.
2017: Request to Avoid Spoilers in Early Reviews
In 2017, critics who saw the film before its release were asked by Villeneuve not to reveal certain characters and plot points in those early reviews of Blade Runner 2049.
January 2018: Scott on Third Blade Runner Story
In January 2018, Scott stated that he had another story ready to evolve and be developed, referring to a third Blade Runner film.
2018: End of House of Cards
In 2018, House of Cards ended, at which time, Wright had already been cast for Blade Runner 2049.
2018: Release of Ready Player One
In 2018, Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One was released. A scene set in the Blade Runner universe was excluded from the film's finished cut due to copyright concerns from Alcon producers.
January 2020: Villeneuve's Interest in New Universe
In January 2020, Villeneuve expressed interest in revisiting the Blade Runner universe in a different way, making something disconnected from the previous movies.
November 2021: Blade Runner Television Series Announced
In November 2021, Scott announced that a Blade Runner television series was in the works.
February 2022: Blade Runner 2099 in Development
In February 2022, Blade Runner 2099 was announced to be in development at Alcon Entertainment, Sony Pictures Television, and Amazon Studios, set fifty years after the events of 2049.
October 12, 2022: Blade Runner 2099 Approved for Production
On October 12, 2022, it was reported that the Blade Runner 2099 series was officially approved and ready to move into production.
April 2023: Progress for Blade Runner 2099 Filming and Release
In April 2023, Joe Roberts announced progress for the planned filming and 2024 release of the Blade Runner 2099 limited series, mentioning filming would begin in Spring 2023.
June 2023: Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth Announcement
In June 2023, Annapurna Interactive announced Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth was in development, set before the movie and after the anime Blade Runner: Black Lotus.
2023: Gosling's Opening Weekend Record Overtaken
In 2023, the film Barbie overtook Blade Runner 2049 as Ryan Gosling's biggest opening weekend for six years.
2023: Postponement of Production due to WGA strike
In 2023, the production of the Blade Runner series was postponed to 2024 due to the 2023 WGA strike, and the production ended up leaving Northern Ireland entirely.
2024: Production Postponement for Blade Runner
In 2024, production of the Blade Runner series was originally scheduled, but was postponed due to the 2023 WGA strike.
2026: Premiere of Blade Runner 2099
In 2026, Blade Runner 2099 is scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video.
2033: Blade Runner 2033 Labyrinth Setting
In 2033, Blade Runner 2033 Labyrinth is set during this year.
2049: IMAX and Rating Information
In 2049, "Blade Runner 2049" was shown in IMAX theaters in 2D domestically and in 3D internationally. It was specially formatted for IMAX at the expanded aspect ratio of 1.9:1 and received an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.
2049: Deckard's Humanity Debate
In 2049, "Blade Runner 2049" does not settle the ongoing debate of whether Deckard is a human or a replicant. Evidence is provided both for and against, with Deckard showing no sign of artificial strength, but Gaff describing him as 'retired', and Niander Wallace saying he might have been 'designed' to fall in love.
2049: Box Office Gross of Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, "Blade Runner 2049" grossed $92.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $175.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $267.5 million, against a production budget between $150–185 million.
2049: Positive Reception by American Press
In 2049, "Blade Runner 2049" was well received by the American press, and various US publications included the film in their end-of-2017 lists.
2049: Blade Runner 2049 Awards
In 2049, Blade Runner 2049 received numerous awards and nominations, including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects at the 90th Academy Awards.
2049: Social Commentary
In 2049, Mackenzie Davis, who played Mariette, discussed the self-awareness of the film's social commentary in an interview with Refinery29.
2049: Counter Argument on Gender Politics
In 2049, Rachael Kaines of Moviepilot countered the criticism by claiming that "the gender politics in Blade Runner 2049 are intentional".
2049: Technical Demands of Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, Roger Deakins recognized that "Blade Runner 2049" would be a significant undertaking due to the technical demands. He opted for a single-camera setup using an Arri Alexa XT Studio camera with Zeiss Master Prime lenses, rejecting a multi-camera approach to maintain artistic control. The filmmakers used Arri Alexa Mini cameras for views from the spinners, the vehicles used in the film.
2049: Criticism of Characterization in Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, a point of contention in reviews of "Blade Runner 2049" was the characterization. Some critics viewed K's romance with Joi as unrealized potential and criticized the film's depiction of female characters as being too submissive.
2049: Critical Comparisons and Narrative Tone
In 2049, critical reviews compared "Blade Runner 2049" favorably to the original "Blade Runner", advancing the franchise mythos. Some were conflicted over the pacing and tonal shifts, while others felt it lacked the spectacle and dramatic depth of its predecessor. The film's craftsmanship and Villeneuve's expertise were widely praised.
2049: Editing Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, editing commenced in December in Los Angeles, with the intention of having the film be rated R.
2049: Dystopian Theme of Fertility
In 2049, fertility is a key theme in Blade Runner 2049's dystopia, reflecting anxieties about declining birth rates among educated women and the potential exploitation of androids for reproduction.
2049: Critical Acclaim for Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, on Rotten Tomatoes, "Blade Runner 2049" received an 88% positive rating from 440 critics, with an average rating of 8.3/10. Metacritic assigned the film a score of 81 out of 100, based on 54 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−".
2049: Redesigning Spinners and Set Design for Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, redesigning the spinners became one of Gassner's initial responsibilities. He and the filmmakers envisioned a harsh, angular design for the spinners, one intended to evoke the sense of technological innovation. It was also up to Gassner to complete most of the "Blade Runner 2049" sets so producers could exercise full artistic control of the shoot.
2049: Praise for Cinematography and Set Design
In 2049, the Villeneuve–Deakins collaboration on "Blade Runner 2049" was noted for its exceptional cinematography, described as "bleakly beautiful". The set design, writing, and scoring were also cited as strengths of the film.
2049: Setting the stage for future events
In 2049, the events of Blade Runner 2049 set the stage for the future television series Blade Runner 2099 which will be set fifty years after.
2049: Soundtrack and Music Choices for Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, the musical cue during the final scene, "Tears in the Rain", is a call-back to the "Tears in rain" scene from Blade Runner which saw the death of the film's central antagonist Roy Batty. The track is a reimagined version of the original Vangelis work. Additionally, a segment from Sergei Prokofiev's musical composition "Peter and the Wolf" plays whenever the emanator is activated or deactivated.
2049: Events Between Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049
In 2049, three short films were made to explore events that occur in the 30 years between Blade Runner, which is set in 2019, and Blade Runner 2049.
2099: Development of Blade Runner 2099
As of 2099, a sequel television series, Blade Runner 2099, is in development at Amazon Studios, with Scott set to return as executive producer.
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