Denis Villeneuve

The original Ridley Scott ‘Blade Runner’ was released in one form, but was later re-edited several times for various home video releases and even theatrical re-releases.  There have been roughly five different cuts released, most recently 2007’s ‘The Final Cut’ which was overseen by Scott.  But don’t expect the same of ‘Blade Runner 2049’.  Audiences won’t have to wait 25 years for the director’s cut of this sequel.  Denis Villeneuve says that the version opening in theaters in October is his final vision.

“The thing is, the movie you’re going to see is the director’s cut. There will be no further … maybe there’ll be a ‘studio version’ [laughs], maybe a producer version, but not a director’s version. That’s my director’s cut. So I don’t think there will be further versions. If there are alternate versions, they’re not from me.”

Reportedly, Villeneuve was given complete creative control.  The sequel’s running time is a hefty 2 hours and 32 minutes.  It is also rated R, meaning that Villeneuve didn’t hold back in terms of violence, language or sexuality.  He also employed real sets, props and practical effects, instead of relying too heavily on green screens, which assisted the actors in delivering their performances with, as Ana de Armas put it, “nothing to imagine.”

Warner Brothers placed a lot of faith in Villeneuve, who was coming off a winning streak with ‘Arrival’, ‘Sicario’ and ‘Prisoners’ but ‘Blade  Runner 2049’ marks his biggest budget yet.  Hopefully, the purity of his vision on the big screen will pay off for audiences.

Even though the theatrical release is Villeneuve’s final vision, that doesn’t mean that some footage didn’t wind up on the cutting room floor.  The eventual Blu-Ray release could still include some new footage that didn’t make it into the finished film.

Are you upset that there isn’t an even longer cut of ‘Blade Runner 2049’ in Villeneuve’s head?

‘Blade Runner 2049’, directed by Denis Villeneuve, stars Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, Ana de Armas, Edward James Olmos and Mackenzie Davis with Harrison Ford.  It arrives on October 6, 2017.

Source: Europe Plus via Screen Rant