This year, we are getting a sequel to the 1982 cult classic Blade Runner in the form of Blade Runner 2049. There are plenty of reasons to feel excited: Denis Villeneuve is directing, the trailers look great, and most of all, Harrison Ford is returning to the franchise. So, what makes an actor want to return to a series after all this time? During an IMAX Q&A on Facebook, Ford has revealed why he decided to step back into the shoes of Rick Deckard after 35 years:
“The character [Rick Deckard] is woven into the story in a way that intrigued me. There’s a very strong emotional context. The relationship between the character Deckard – that I play – and other characters is fascinating. I think it’s interesting to develop a character after a period of time – to revisit a character… I think it’s fascinating that the original film postulated a technology, which, in many ways, we’ve surpassed, and, in other ways, we’re not quite there. And this film takes into account the 30 years that have passed; it references technologies that actually are in place now, and also – to me, which is a little bit more interesting – acknowledges and deals with some of the ethical considerations that technology presents us with.”
SEE ALSO: Watch the Blade Runner 2049 trailer here
Harrison Ford is no stranger to revisiting older franchises. Counting Indiana Jones and Star Wars, this will be his third time (and he’s set to return as Indy once again in 2020’s Indiana Jones 5). Still, it’s great to know that the actor has deeply personal reasons to make a return, and not just the paycheck.
Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.
Blade Runner 2049 is set for release on October 6th and sees Harrison Ford reprising the role of Rick Deckard alongside Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto and Edward James Olmos.
… You can find Jordan on Twitter (@JordJJones), and Facebook.
Originally published May 12, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
