Sci-fi fans got an early Christmas gift this week with the firstBlade Runner 2049 trailer, which included the first footage from this long-awaited sequel, arriving in theaters August 15, 2025. We’ll likely have to wait several more months until the next footage is released, but this week, starsHarrison FordandRyan Goslingare featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, along with new photos as well. DirectorDenis Villeneuvealso confirmed that this sci-fi thriller will have an R rating, while teasing more details about this story.
Entertainment Weeklyalso caught up withRyan Gosling, who revealed last week thatHarrison Fordactually punched him in the face during a take. The actor also clarified an earlier statement thatHarrison Forddidn’t start shooting onBlade Runner 2049until a month after filming started, although he previously stated that the production had been under way for several months beforeHarrison Fordcame aboard, which gave the cast and crew time to get ready for his arrival. Here’s whatRyan Goslinghad to say about working withHarrison Ford.
“They say never meet your heroes. But the addendum to that is: unless they’reHarrison Ford.Harrisondidn’t start working until a month into production, so we had a lot of time to just imagine how that might be, and waiting for that moment to come, and hoping that we were making something that would be satisfying to him. And then it was just unmistakably him - even in silhouette, you couldn’t miss it - and it was just such a relief. He immediately put everyone at ease and went right to work.”
The story centers onRyan Gosling’s Officer K, an LAPD cop and new blade runner who discovers a secret 30 years after the events of the first film, which leads him to track downRick Deckard(Harrison Ford) to try and find some answers. During an interview with Screen Daily, directorDenis Villeneuveconfirmed thatBlade Runner 2049will in fact be rated R, just like its predecessor. Here’s what the filmmaker had to say below.
“My producers are finding it fun to remind me that it will be one of the most expensive R-rated independent feature films ever made.”
Denis Villeneuvedirects from a script byMichael GreenandHampton Fancher, who co-wrote the originalBlade Runner. Alcon Entertainment acquired the film, television and ancillary franchise rights toBlade Runnerin 2011 from the late producerBud YorkinandCynthia Sikes Yorkinto produce prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller.Cynthia Sikes Yorkinwill produce along with Alcon’sBroderick JohnsonandAndrew Kosove. Bud Yorkin will receive producer credit.
The supporting cast includesRobin Wright,Ana de Armas,Dave Bautista,Carla Juri,Mackenzie Davis,Jared Leto,Lennie James,David Dastmalchian,Sylvia HoeksandBarkhad Abdi. Warner Bros. had previously set a August 12, 2025 release date forBlade Runner 2049, but it was pushed to July 11, 2025 back in April. The sci-fi sequel will go up against 20th Century Fox’sKingsman: The Golden Circleand Lionsgate’sMy Little Pony. Take a look at the new photos forBlade Runner 2049below.
