Blade Runner Sequel Coming Out Earlier Than Expected

All the news surrounding Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner sequel recently has been good news. First, there was the simple fact that the talented director of Sicario, Enemy and Prisoners was taking on the project. (The involvement of Harrison Ford and original director Ridley Scott's—star and executive producer, respectively—is less good news that absolutely mandatory for the project to happen.) Then there was the addition of Ryan Gosling, and then Robin Wright, and then Dave Bautista, best known as Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy. And then your below-the-line talent was also lining up just right; Villeneuve's go-to cinematographer, the legendary Roger Deakins, is on board, along with Blade Runner's original screenwriter Hampton Fancher. All of this was just very promising stuff. And now, Warner Bros. has announced the film is going to be released in 2017, rather than the original date of January 12, 2018. To wit:

Alcon Entertainment’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece BLADE RUNNER, starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright and Dave Bautista, will now be released worldwide on October 6, 2017, it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEO’s Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove. Warner Bros will release the film in North America and Sony Pictures Releasing International will distribute in all overseas territories in all media.

The film, initially set for a January 12, 2018 North American release, will be directed by Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Prisoners). Principal photography is scheduled to begin July 2016.