Filmmaking is a collaborative process, and as such, it is rare to see an undiluted version of one person's vision. As a result, studios have often found it prudent to release "Director's Cuts" of films over the years. That is something that occurred with the release of the original Blade Runner, but it looks like we should not look for a Director's Cut of Blade Runner 2049 after the long-awaited sequel's release. The reason for that is simple: the film that will debut in theaters on October 6 IS director Denis Villeneuve's Director's Cut. Villeneuve explained:
The thing is, the movie you're going to see is the director's cut. 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.
Pretty straightforward, right? Although plenty of films have received re-releases that (in many cases) do better jobs of encapsulating what their directors wanted to capture the first time around, it looks like Denis Villeneuve (per his comments during an appearance on Europa Plus) stands by the version of Blade Runner 2049 that's about to debut as his definitive incarnation of the story. If that is truly the case, then it seems to bode well for the studio's confidence in what Villeneuve committed to celluloid. We will just have to wait and see.
This particular situation seems notable for the Blade Runner franchise because the original entry in the series has become notorious for the sheer number of alternate cuts that have hit shelves over the years. In addition to Blade Runner's theatrical cut, the classic 1982 sci-fi film has also seen the release of a Director's Cut, a "workprint prototype cut," and the "Final Cut," all of which have their champions and detractors. By contrast, Blade Runner 2049 has one definitive cut (for now) that captures Denis Villeneuve's vision to the best of its ability. Villeneuve would later go on to admit that Ridley Scott also approves of the sequel, so there's quite a bit to get excited about with regards to this project's reception.
Blade Runner 2049 picks up thirty years after the events of the original. Taking place in Los Angeles in 2049 (hence the title), it follows a young Blade Runner named Officer K (Ryan Gosling) who uncovers a secret that forces him to go on a search for Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard -- who has been missing and presumed dead since the events of the original movie, and STILL may or may not be a replicant.
For a closer look at Blade Runner 2049's story, check out a trailer for the film below!
Blade Runner 2049 will debut in theaters next month on October 6. Looking ahead to the next year, take a glance at our 2017 movie premiere guide and our 2018 movie premiere guide to keep yourself in the loop on all of the latest and greatest films set to debut on the big screen!
