I
t’s already dark in LA, but Denis
Villeneuve is still on set. This is the Villeneuve is still on set. This is the
pointy-end of production, the phase pointy-end of production, the phase
when sound and visual effects are when sound and visual effects are
tweaked and re-tweaked and, tweaked and re-tweaked and,
hopefully, everything finally all hopefully, everything finally all
comes together. It’s been a 13-hour day.comes together. It’s been a 13-hour day.
“We’re running towards the finish line,” he “We’re running towards the finish line,” he
says. “It’s the last step, but it’s really crucial. says. “It’s the last step, but it’s really crucial.
To make the shot look good is not that To make the shot look good is not that
difficult, but we want to make it look great difficult, but we want to make it look great- something that will make a statement. But – something that will make a statement. But
it’s the fun part, it’s the icing on the cake.”it’s the fun part, it’s the icing on the cake.”
The cake, of course, is The cake, of course, is Blade Runner 2049Blade Runner 2049..
Rumoured to be in the works since at least Rumoured to be in the works since at least
2009, the sequel has been through a few 2009, the sequel has been through a few
different cooks and a few different recipes. different cooks and a few different recipes.
Ridley Scott, who directed the original, was Ridley Scott, who directed the original, was
reportedly on board – and then he wasn’t. reportedly on board – and then he wasn’t.
Ditto Christopher Nolan. And then in early Ditto Christopher Nolan. And then in early
2015, it was finally official: Canadian Denis 2015, it was finally official: Canadian Denis
Villeneuve would be in the director’s chair.Villeneuve would be in the director’s chair.
Best known for Best known for PrisonersPrisoners, , SicarioSicario and and
Oscar-nominated Oscar-nominated ArrivalArrival, Villeneuve , Villeneuve
approached the project as most people would: approached the project as most people would:
with equal parts excitement and sheer terror.with equal parts excitement and sheer terror.
“It was not a decision I took lightly,” he “It was not a decision I took lightly,” he
reflects. “First of all, I was one of the biggest reflects. “First of all, I was one of the biggest
fans of the original movie – it was a big part fans of the original movie – it was a big part
in my desire to become a filmmaker. The in my desire to become a filmmaker. The
movie really influenced me and I’m such a fan movie really influenced me and I’m such a fan
of Ridley Scott’s work. To make a sequel to of Ridley Scott’s work. To make a sequel to
such a masterpiece, I was like... such a masterpiece, I was like... wowwow. I was. I was
pretty moved that the producer asked me pretty moved that the producer asked me
to take that challenge.”to take that challenge.”
There are many ways to make a bad sequel There are many ways to make a bad sequel
to a sci-fi classic like to a sci-fi classic like Blade RunnerBlade Runner, but there , but there
are two main ones. The first is to piss off fans are two main ones. The first is to piss off fans
of the original. The second is to make of the original. The second is to make
a nerd-fest that can only be enjoyed by fans of a nerd-fest that can only be enjoyed by fans of
the original. Coming three decades after the the original. Coming three decades after the
first movie hit screens, there’s every chance first movie hit screens, there’s every chance
your average millennial won’t have seen the your average millennial won’t have seen the
first movie. Or even heard of it.first movie. Or even heard of it.
“It was something that we made sure was “It was something that we made sure was
in the screenplay right from the start, that in the screenplay right from the start, that
there would be a balance,” says Villeneuve. there would be a balance,” says Villeneuve.
“We had to make sure we didn’t repeat things “We had to make sure we didn’t repeat things
that people already know, but also that we that people already know, but also that we
don’t lose new people who don’t know the don’t lose new people who don’t know the
universe so well.”universe so well.”
The film will again be set in LA but takes The film will again be set in LA but takes
place 30 years after the events of the original. place 30 years after the events of the original.
It stars Ryan Gosling as LAPD Officer K, It stars Ryan Gosling as LAPD Officer K,
who uncovers a secret that threatens the who uncovers a secret that threatens the
future of humanity. Original lead, Harrison future of humanity. Original lead, Harrison
Ford, reprises his role as Rick Deckard, and is Ford, reprises his role as Rick Deckard, and is
also joined by Jared Leto and Robin Walso joined by Jared Leto and Robin Wright.right.
WWhen it was released in 1982, hen it was released in 1982, Blade RunnerBlade Runner
was hailed as a visual masterpiece, earning was hailed as a visual masterpiece, earning
a swag of awards, as well as two Oscar a swag of awards, as well as two Oscar
nominations. But when it came to recreating nominations. But when it came to recreating
the eerie, futuristic atmosphere of the sequel, the eerie, futuristic atmosphere of the sequel,
Villeneuve was keen to avoid taking the Villeneuve was keen to avoid taking the
green-screen route.green-screen route.THE BRIEF
“I strongly believe that it’s better for actors
if there is a real environment,” he says. “We if there is a real environment,” he says. “We
built almost everything – we built the road, built almost everything – we built the road,
we built the streets. It was a pretty amazing we built the streets. It was a pretty amazing
experience to walk onto those sets. I never experience to walk onto those sets. I never
thought I would see something like this thought I would see something like this
in my life.”in my life.”
Following such an epic production, it Following such an epic production, it
might be easy to assume Villeneuve’s next might be easy to assume Villeneuve’s next
project would be something smaller. One project would be something smaller. One
of the indie numbers he directed, back before of the indie numbers he directed, back before
Hollywood came calling, perhaps.Hollywood came calling, perhaps.
Not quite. Villeneuve’s next film is Not quite. Villeneuve’s next film is DuneDune- yes, the epic, complex series of sci-fi novels – yes, the epic, complex series of sci-fi novels
that David Lynch famously tackled back that David Lynch famously tackled back
in 1984 and which is widely considered the in 1984 and which is widely considered the
worst film of his career (it is). Presumably, worst film of his career (it is). Presumably,
Villeneuve looked back on that whole fiasco Villeneuve looked back on that whole fiasco
and thought: where do I sign?and thought: where do I sign?
“Right now, my brain is totally focused “Right now, my brain is totally focused
on this,” he says. “It was quite a journey on this,” he says. “It was quite a journey
to do to do Blade RunnerBlade Runner and I’ve really loved it. and I’ve really loved it.
But it requires a huge amount of energy But it requires a huge amount of energy
to do a project like this and I would to do a project like this and I would
definitely need to take two weeks off [before definitely need to take two weeks off [before
starting starting DuneDune] – for my sanity.”] – for my sanity.”
Still, he wouldn’t have it any Still, he wouldn’t have it any
other way.other way.
“I lived in a small town and “I lived in a small town and
most of the movies I could most of the movies I could
access were American movies, access were American movies,
made in Hollywood,” he recalls made in Hollywood,” he recalls
of his Québécois upbringing. of his Québécois upbringing.
“So this has been a dream, “So this has been a dream,
since my youth. But I never since my youth. But I never
thought I would have the thought I would have the
opportunity to do it.”opportunity to do it.”
B L A D E R U NB L A D E R U NNNE R 2 0 4 9E R 2 0 4 9 I S I N I S I N
C I NC I NE ME MA S OA S OC T OC T OB E R 5B E R 5
“We built almost
everything...
It was pretty
amazing to walk
onto those sets.”
F R OM L E F T:
D I R E C T OD I R E C T OR D E NR D E NI S I S
V I L L E NV I L L E NE U V E OE U V E ON N
T H E S E T OT H E S E T OF F B L A D E B L A D E
R U NR U NNNE R 2 0 4 9E R 2 0 4 9; ;
R YA N G O S L I NR YA N G O S L I NG A S G A S
K WK WI T H C OI T H C O- S TA R - S TA R
A NA NA D E A R MA D E A R MA S .A S.THE SET OF THE
SEQUEL WAS MADE
ALMOST ENTIRELY
WITHOUT THE USE
OF GREEN SCREEN.P H O T OGR A P H Y:F R A NK OC K E NF E L S ; S T E P H E N VA UGH A N ; A LC ON E N T E R TA I NME N T.F R A NK OC K E NF E L S ; S T E P H E N VA UGH A N ; A LC ON E N T E R TA I NME N T.