Denis Villeneuve talks visual effects, artistic challenge of Blade Runner

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

BLADE RUNNER 2049 is easily one of the most anticipated movies of 2017, if for the simple fact that for so many years no one thought it would happen. For many sci-fi nerds their hopes of seeing another BLADE RUNNER movie were as dark and bleak as the unwashed hair flowing from their scalps.  But the film is barreling toward us at top speed, despite being a worthy challenge for director Denis Villeneuve.

During an interview with Deadline the acclaimed director, who has the small task of bringing a shining jewel of cinema into the 21st century, talked about how 2049 has easily been his toughest movie:

It’s the first time that I had to take the universe of someone else and to make it my own. It’s very challenging, the biggest artistic challenge I’ve had in my life probably. Listen, I hesitated a lot before doing it, but when I said yes I committed at one hundred percent and it’s very difficult to talk about it because I’m in the process of doing it, so it’s a bit like asking a hockey player to describe how he will score as he’s going through the other players. It’s a massive challenge.

He mentioned earlier in the interview how working on this year’s ARRIVAL prepped him to “feel ready to go on the scope” of the movie, but how working on something so effects-driven may not be something he'll rush to do in the future:

You see the evolution, each shot, the camerawork, the background, everything kind of goes together as you are working. Everybody knows where to go because there’s that kind of computerized short film that is made in pre-production. I hate that. I like to be free on set. I like to be inspired by actors. I like to play with life so I hate when it’s programmed. That’s another battle for the future. I will try to do things in a different way.

Meanwhile, in the far off land of Budapest, star Ryan Gosling spoke with GQ about the scope of 2049 saying, “It's like three movies that I usually make in one. Just in terms of the length and just the whole scope and experience.” As well, given the anticipation of the film he remains “cautiously optimistic” about the final product. He also talked about love, childhood, but more importantly, being punched in the face by Harrison Ford:

It was kind of, you know, a rite of passage. We were just doing a fight scene and, you know, it just happened. But what was funny was, when it was over, they brought ice for my face, and Harrison pushed me out of the way and stuck his fist in the ice.

It wouldn’t be considered blasphemy to say BLADE RUNNER is one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time, if not one of the greatest films. On that note it’s easy to fear the sequel won’t live up to the lofty heights set for it, but Villeneuve has proven to be one of the best directors working today, and Ryan Gosling one of the most reliable stars. Therefore we should trust the team is giving it 100 percent all the time, especially with the fear of Ford's fist looming in the shadows…

Villeneuve's ARRIVAL is still crushing it in theaters now, while Gosling's critically accliamed LA LA LAND hits theaters this weekend, and both have been nominated for Golden Globes. Mic drop.