Lennie James (The Walking Dead) is set to join the previously-announced cast of Alcon Entertainment’s Blade Runner sequel which includes Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Carla Juri, Mackenzie Davis, Barkhad Abdi, David Dastmalchian, Hiam Abbass and Dave Bautista, it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEO’s Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove.
Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Prisoners) is directing the film to be released October 6, 2017. The film will be released by Warner Bros. in North America and Sony Pictures Releasing International will distribute in all media for all overseas territories.The sequel is set several decades after the 1982 original, with Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role as Rick Deckard. The film is written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and succeeds the initial story by Fancher and David Peoples based on Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.” Story details are not being revealed.
Alcon Entertainment acquired the film, television and ancillary franchise rights to Blade Runner in 2011 from the late producer Bud Yorkin and Cynthia Sikes Yorkin to produce prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller. Cynthia Sikes Yorkin will produce along with Johnson and Kosove. Bud Yorkin will receive producer credit.
Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEO’s of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers. Ridley Scott will also executive produce. Bill Carraro will executive produce.
James is best known for his work in TV, most notably AMC’s The Walking Dead in the role of Morgan Jones. His film credits include Universal’s 2014 James Brown biopic Get On Up directed by Tate Taylor and starring Chadwick Boseman and Guy Ritchie’s Snatch which also starred Brad Pitt, Jason Statham and Benicio del Toro.
