modern to play his future, and he liked the
idea of adding some Eastern European
interiors. Instead, the body of production,
which will run from July through to November,
is taking place on the nine soundstages and
backlot of Origo Studio, a few miles from
here.
“I am having the time of my life,” says
the Canadian director, who is riding high on
the icy promise of thrillers like Incendies,
Prisoners and Sicario, not to mention last
year’s cerebral sci-fi hit Arrival. “No matter
what we achieve, we will always be compared
with a masterpiece. But what we are doing is
so insane, it gives you freedom.”
He spins on his heel to take it all in:
Gosling back at his push-ups; the crew in
waders; Roger Deakins, his cinematographer,
contemplating the camera from under the
hood of his cagoule.
“We are all,” he muses, “children of
Blade Runner.”
Let’s take this for a spin: Director Denis
Villeneuve on set with the Spinner,
which is what a cop car is called in the
Blade Runner universe. The vehicle not
only runs on roads, it can also take off
vertically like a helicopter. That’s right,
in the future, we don’t need roads.8 DAYS | 31