Ridley Scott isn’t just a filmmaker, but a brand builder. Starting his career in the world of commercials, moving into feature films, and then becoming a producer with dozens and dozens of TV shows and films to his name, Scott knows the importance of commercial success and extending IP value. However, he’ll be the first to admit he came to this knowledge late in his career, but now that he has, he’s eager to franchise his most legendary work.
Chatting with IGN, the director revealed that with both “Alien” and “Blade Runner,” he wants to take a page from George Lucas and turn them both into big properties. Asked whether or not “Blade Runner 2049” could expand to more entries in the series, Scott’s answer spoke volumes.
“Yes. I think that, you know what, George has always proved that. Of course there’s always something. George Lucas. You know, and the way he’s handled ‘Star Wars‘ has been spectacular. It’s what I’ve been trying to do to really evolve ‘Alien,’ because in those days I wasn’t into making sequels, but now suddenly you realize, ‘Well, that’s stupid.’ I’ll use the word ‘duh’ again, right? You’d better get into sequels, duh. So that’s in a way what I’ve been doing,” he explained.
This news probably shouldn’t be a surprise, but let’s hope there’s some better quality control than what we’ve seen in the “Alien” movies so far. As for any potential “Alien” and “Blade Runner” sharing the same universe, Scott provided a pretty cryptic answer.
“Well, I think if ‘Alien’ is in the air, ‘Blade Runner’ is on Earth. And probably is a very good reason why you wanna leave Earth,” he said. Uh, okay. In case you forgot, on the “Prometheus” DVD, an Easter Egg hidden inside reveals that Eldon Tyrell was Peter Weyland’s mentor.
Meanwhile, for the upcoming “Blade Runner 2049,” Scott promises that it’s going to answer the big question that fans have wondering since the 1982 film landed — is Deckard a replicant? The director has long maintained that it was so, however, he seems to be softening his position on the matter.
“Oh, it was always my thesis theory. It was one or two people who were relevant were… I can’t remember if [screenwriter] Hampton [Fancher] agreed with me or not,” Scott said. “But I remember someone had said, ‘Well, isn’t it corny?’ I said, ‘Listen, I’ll be the best f#@king judge of that. I’m the director, okay?’ So, and that, you learn — you know, by then I’m 44, so I’m no f#@king chicken. I’m a very experienced director from commercials and ‘The Duellists‘ and ‘Alien.’ So, I’m able to, you know, answer that with confidence at the time, and say, ‘You know, back off, it’s what it’s gonna be.’ Harrison [Ford], he was never — I don’t remember, actually. I think Harrison was going, ‘Uh, I don’t know about that.’ I said, ‘But you have to be, because Gaff, who leaves a trail of origami everywhere, will leave you a little piece of origami at the end of the movie to say, ‘I’ve been here, I left her alive, and I can’t resist letting you know what’s in your most private thoughts when you get drunk is a f#@king unicorn!’ ‘ Right? So, I love ‘Beavis and Butthead,’ so what should follow that is ‘Duh.’ So now it will be revealed [in the sequel], one way or the other.”
It’s an interesting comment for a number of reasons, but mostly because last year, Denis Villeneuve played a bit more coy, saying that ‘2049’ would “not necessarily” answer the Deckard/replicant question.
Guess we’ll find out when “Blade Runner 2049” opens on October 6th.