‘Blade Runner 2049’ Won’t Have a Director’s Cut, Says Denis Villeneuve

Eight different versions of “Blade Runner” have been shown in one form or another, five of which are well known: the workprint, the theatrical cut, the international cut, the director’s cut, and the final cut. In a new interview with Europe Plus, Denis Villeneuve says that “Blade Runner 2049” won’t be so complicated — there will be no director’s cut, he explains, because the version arriving in theaters next month is the director’s cut.

“The thing is, the movie you’re going to see is the director’s cut,” says Villeneuve, who most recently directed “Arrival” and “Sicario.” “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.”

“Blade Runner 2049” carries a hefty price tag ($185 million) and protracted runtime (163 minutes, 11 of which are reserved for the credits). Villeneuve is said to have had a high degree of creative control over the long-awaited sequel, which was written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. Warner Bros. will release it theatrically on October 6.