While speculating on possible projects in the Action Sci-Fi post, I had dismissed that it could be the Blade Runner sequel, but reading about Ridley Scott's recent update on the project made me think further about it.Ridley Scott said that he was "close to finding a writer that might be able to help (him) deliver," and then added that "we're quite a long way in, actually."
At this point, it matters less if this is the project that's being cast in NY. What's more interesting is if Angelina and Ridley Scott are in fact working on it since many sites interpret his remarks to mean this will be his next project.
So my thoughts:
1) This could be the project that Angelina met with him about last Sept. 10 in London. She was clutching a fairly thick script -- over half an inch -- with parts marked off with post-it notes. Not long after their meeting, there was word that Scott Z. Burns was being eyed to work on the Blade Runner script.
2) Angelina was earlier rumored to be circling a part in Scott's Prometheus that eventually went to Charlize Theron, but even movie bloggers doubted she would go for such an ensemble role. It's possible the source got the genre right but the title wrong.
3) She would be taking over from Harrison Ford which would be fitting.
4) It would certainly explain the desire for secrecy surrounding the aforementioned action sci-fi project.
5) The original Blade Runner was set in L.A. but they could easily move the setting of the sequel to NY or any other city given the futuristic backgrounds that will be used. And the need for models is understandable given some of the scenes that were in the original.
6) If it is also set 40 years into the future, extras will need to be fitted ahead for their costumes, but if Burns just got hired last Sept., an Oct. casting call seems too soon. Scott still has to finish post on Prometheus so the earliest it can start filming is July after Prometheus opens and Brad wraps his supporting role in 12 Years A Slave.
It would be a pretty exciting project if this was what they discussed. I am not ruling out that they may have also discussed the Gertrude Bell biopic which I am sure Angelina would love to do. But she can't do Cleopatra, West with the Night and Gertrude Bell in succession. I am excited about Cleopatra in particular esp. if Fincher or someone of equal stature is directing. But the Markham and Bell biopics can wait as they are less age sensitive than her action-related roles.
Blood and Honey starts screening for the press on Monday so we should have a definitive update on her projects not long after.
In the meantime these are my best guesses on the most high profile projects that seemed closest to production:
Cleopatra - [25.02] Target release 2013 - A poster on IMDb said preparations were proceeding but I don't think they'll start production until things have settled down in Egypt and neighboring countries for safety and insurance purposes. While they can film some desert scenes in Malta, Morocco or other areas with similar topography, the scenes in the Nile have to be filmed in the Nile. There's also the question of Fincher's availability since he has House of Cards up next and 20,000 Leagues is in pre-producton. If Fincher does 20,000 Leagues after House of Cards, he won't be free until mid 2013. Angelina seems to have her heart set on having him direct and Mike Flemming said he was keen to direct her so they'll have to sort things out.
Maleficent -- [23.58] 2013 - If they can't get a director that meets with Angelina's approval right now, they'll have to wait until someone she likes becomes available. Aronofsky is filling his time doing TV ads and music videos so he may not be taking on full feature projects before Noah.
Salt 2 - [22.47] 2014 - Whatever script Kurt Wimmer turns in will probably still need quite a bit of work, and then comes the search for a director that passes muster w/ Angelina. Theoretically though, this could start sometime next year.
Unforgiven - [22.96] Given that it is a remake and the script should be fairly easy to adapt, I am assuming Christopher McQuarrie has already finished and submitted an acceptable draft. They were originally targeting a May 2011 start so this could go into production on short notice. Again, the big hurdle would be finding an acceptable director.
The Tiger - [21.77] 2014 - Like Unforgiven, this could go into production on short notice since it doesn't require elaborate preparation. If Aronofsky hadn't dropped out this could have been next in the queue.
So we go back to Blade Runner - [21.84] 2014 - It is certainly possible that this could leap frog over everything else and be her next project if she has nothing set to go before mid 2012. It has an esteemed director, a big star who can compare to Harrison Ford when he made it, and if they already have most of the script, they can be ready to go as soon as the script is finished.
- Warner Bros/Everett
- WSJ Harrison Ford and Ridley Scott on the set of ‘Blade Runner’ in 1982.
Untitled Blade Runner Project [21.84]
Status - (2014), In dev't, Regular, OWA
Production Co - Alcon Entertainment
Studio - Warner Bros.
Director - Ridley Scott
Producer - Broderick Johnson, Andrew A. Kosove
Writers -
(source) - Phillip K. Dick
Production execs -
- 9/26/11: Scott Z. Burns said to be top choice to write.
Director says, "It's liable to be a sequel."
By Matt Maytum
Director Ridley Scott has spoken for the first time about his upcoming sequel to his sci-fi classic Blade Runner.
The new movie was announced in August, but until now there had been no word from Sir Ridley himself.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog, Scott dropped a few cryptic clues about the much anticipated follow-up, saying that the new project is "liable to be a sequel."
Scott also revealed that the production was further ahead than we had anticipated: "I think I'm quite close to finding a writer that might be able to help me deliver," he explained, adding, "we're quite a long way in, actually."
He also stated the film is moving forward, "not with the past cast, of course." When pressed on whether Deckard would reappear, Scott said, "No, not really."
Prometheus, Scott's sequel to his other groundbreaking sci-fi classic Alien, opens on 1 June 2012.
