‘Blade Runner 2049’ Prequel Short Film: Jared Leto Has Designed His Own Army of Replicants, And They Have Weapons
Picking up thirty years after the events of the first film, Denis Villeneuve‘s upcoming “Blade Runner 2049” is tasked with not only weaving a brand new story, but explaining what exactly has occurred since the conclusion of Ridley Scott’s epic sci-fi opus. In hopes of bridging that gap, the director tasked a trio of filmmakers to craft three ambitious new shorts, all set between the original film and his new sequel, due out later this fall.
Collider has debuted the first short, entitled “2036: Nexus Dawn,” which features “Blade Runner 2049” star Jared Leto in character as apparent replicant-building genius (and perhaps madman?) Niander Wallace. Directed by Ridley’s own son Luke Scott, who last directed the feature “Morgan,” the film is set in 2036, halfway between the first film and its new followup. And things aren’t looking so great.
“Human action resounds in the heavens. The bell echoes above,” Leto’s character admonishes an assemblage of officials who seem hellbent on keeping his replicants at bay. As the head of the Tyrell Corporation, Wallace’s life is dedicated to crafting better and better replicants, including a brand new version, the Nexus 9, which is introduced in this short.
Although we only meet one replicant in the film (or do we?), Wallace’s latest creation hints at a much larger selection of machines, all of them capable of taking up arms, at least as demanded by their owners. But with a a handler like Wallace in control, that doesn’t quite sound like a reassuring prospect.
Villeneuve’s new film stars Leto, Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, and Dave Bautista. Place your bets on their individual replicant statues right now.
Check out the short, “2036: Nexus Dawn,” below, thanks to Collider.
“Blade Runner 2049” will hit theaters on October 6.
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