Sometimes moviemaking can be dangerous work. A number of precautions are always in place, but it's an all too real possibility that something could go wrong during an elaborate stunt or if there's even just a miscalculation in the build of a set. Unfortunately, this seems to be the case today because someone has died on the set of the untitled Blade Runner sequel. The man was reportedly a construction worker hired to work on set and the cause of his death are still under investigation.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the man was a 28-year-old Hungarian construction worker working on the set of the highly anticipated Blade Runner sequel that was filming in Budapest. On August 25, production had already moved on to a new location and the leftover crew was charged with breaking down the sets. A spokesperson from local production company Origo Studios has said that the construction worker, whose name has not yet been released, was "underneath a platform, upon which the set was constructed," when it collapsed on top of him. The exact cause of the accident is not yet known, but an investigation is currently underway.
Whatever the cause of the accident, our condolences go out to the construction worker's friends and family. It can sometimes be easy to forget, but movie sets can be dangerous places to work, and it's always unfortunate to hear this sort of news. Harrison Ford himself almost suffered a lethal accident on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, while other actors have died from on-set accidents like Brandon Lee - the son of Bruce Lee - on The Crow. Films can also be dangerous for everyone on set; an extra was once put into a coma after a freak car accident while filming for Transformers: Dark of the Moon. The cause of the Blade Runner incident is still unknown but hopefully, it is something that can be avoided in the future. Safety is always a top priority, but sometimes freak twists of fate are unpreventable.
The Blade Runner sequel is was filming on location in the village of Etyek when the accident occurred. The anticipated follow-up to Ridley Scott's classic 1982 sci-fi film is directed by Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, the upcoming Arrival) with a screenplay penned by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. The plot details of the film are being kept completely under wraps, but we can at least expect plenty of existential ponderings and perhaps a confirmation on whether Deckard is a replicant or not. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto, Mackenzie Davis and Robin Wright in mysterious unrevealed roles and Harrison Ford returning as Rick Deckard.
Our thoughts are with the victim's family at this time.
