'Blade Runner' sequel: Will Harrison Ford star?

Actor Harrison Ford has reportedly signed on to star in a sequel to the sci-fi classic “Blade Runner.” 

The company Alcon Entertainment released a statement saying that Ford is officially on board to take on the role of Rick Deckard, the part he played in the original 1982 film.

According to the same press release, director Denis Villeneuve, who has previously been behind such films as the 2013 movie “Prisoners” and the 2013 film “Enemy,” is “in negotiations to direct.” 

In addition, Hampton Fancher, who co-wrote the 1982 film, and Michael Green have co-written the script for the sequel. Last year, “Blade Runner” director Ridley Scott, who is executive-producing the sequel, according to Alcon Entertainment’s press release, told MTV, “I sent [Ford] this [script] and he said it’s the best thing he’s ever read.”

“We are honored that Harrison is joining us on this journey with Denis Villeneuve, who is a singular talent, as we experienced personally on Prisoners,” Alcon co-CEOs Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove said in a statement. “Hampton and Michael, with Ridley Scott, have crafted a uniquely potent and faithful sequel to one of the most universally celebrated films of all time, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with this amazing, creative team.” 

According to the same statement by Alcon Entertainment, the “Blade Runner” sequel story will happen some decades after the first movie. 

Ford is of course reprising another of his famous sci-fi roles, that of smuggler Han Solo, in the upcoming “Star Wars” film.

We ranked “Blade” as the fourth-best science fiction movie of all time in our list of the classics. “Scott's meticulous attention to detail means that the gritty 2019 Los Angeles of the movie feels fully realized,” Monitor staff wrote. “The film's strong art direction and dark style have gone on to influence a generation of filmmakers.”