“Why did I do that?” Blade Runner 2049 still haunts Denis Villeneuve…

News culture “Why did I do that?” Blade Runner 2049 still haunts Denis Villeneuve…

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Making a sequel to a monument like Blade Runner, an impossible mission?

Since his debut in 1998, the Canadian director has been Denis Villeneuve has accustomed us to particularly well-made films with more than fascinating themes. Although it was mainly necessary to wait until 2015 for the general public to discover it Sicario, he had already made several other films that film fans know well. Today Denis Villeneuve has achieved nothing less than 11 films and suffice it to say they are all different. Some are completely original, others adaptations of novels or short stories, but in all cases he always knew how to put his own touch on the creations he undertook. However, in 2017 he delved into a universe that he particularly liked: Blade Runner

As a reminder, Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott.. The latter was itself an adaptation of the novel Do all androids dream of electric sheep? by Phillip K. Dick and is still considered a pillar of science fiction cinema today. There we found particular Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, a former police officer tasked with tracking down a group of rebellious androids called replicants. While this universe seemed completely abandoned, Denis Villeneuve decided to include a sequel with the extremely difficult mission of respecting the spirit of Ridley Scott’s film and providing a breath of fresh air 35 years later. Successful bet? Maybe, but not without difficulty.

Denis Villeneuve still dreams of electric sheep

Seven years after the publication of Blade Runner 2049, it’s pretty easy to take stock and agree that this sequel managed to overcome all the difficulties that its creation presented. However, it wasn’t really clear to Denis Villeneuve at the time he realized this. Despite undeniable talent and very good motivation, The Canadian director actually felt a very heavy burden on his shoulders. Interviewed by the Hollywood Reporter on this topic he stated:

Blade Runner is one of my favorite films and an absolute masterpiece. Ridley Scott is one of my favorite directors, and even though he gave me his blessing, it was very important for me to hear and see in his eyes that he was okay with me doing this sequel. But while I was making Blade Runner 2049, I kept thinking about the original film. It was impossible not to think about it.

Even though Blade Runner 2049 wasn’t Denis Villeneuve’s first adaptation, it’s clear that the latter was particularly close to his heart. It’s difficult to make your own film when you’re constantly thinking about respecting the one who originated it all, especially when you love your director and he’s still alive and active.

Blade Runner 2049 was a true love letter to the first film, but it was also by far the most difficult project I’ve ever done and I don’t think I would adapt someone else’s universe to a new one. Sometimes I still wake up at night and think, “Why did I do that?” I’ve turned down a few other projects of this magnitude, but in that moment I said to myself, “This is a crazy project, but it’s worth the risk “To lose everything.”

If we fully understand the concerns he may have had when developing Blade Runner 2049, we have to admit that viewers are glad he finally decided to do it. Even better, even though he didn’t think he’d be delving into someone else’s universe any time soon, he eventually followed up with the film adaptation of Dune. What better than another pillar of science fiction to confirm it all? As a reminder: The second part of Dune is currently still showing in cinemas.