Denis Villeneuve talks expectations for Blade Runner 2049

With the first teaser trailer and images released last month, anticipation has risen even higher for the upcoming (and long-gestating) sequel to Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi noir Blade Runner in the form of Blade Runner 2049. Now the director of the film, the acclaimed Denis Villeneuve, has been speaking about the film and the levels of expectation upon it.

Speaking to The Canadian Press, the director said: “The level of expectation behind this movie is huge and everybody is waiting for the movie with open arms — or with a baseball bat,”

Fans have been waiting for 35 years to see a follow-up to the seminal original released in 1982 and with such anticipation comes the pressure of trying to please all of them. But Villeneuve is well aware of such nerves and the risks of taking on the sequel in the first place:

“The expectations are for obvious reasons: The first movie was a masterpiece and it’s a very risky, challenging project. But I will say that it has been the most rewarding and exciting experience of my life so far and I’m excited”, he continued. “The first movie was a film noir, quite intense with melancholia and an existential crisis, so we are not far away from the thematics of the first movie, I will say. It’s the same genre, the same atmosphere,”

After the success of his previous films Sicario, Enemy and Prisoners, interest in Villeneuve’s work has only intensified and with the huge acclaim and box-office return of this year’s Arrival (which has now topped $157million worldwide), many believe that the Canadian director is best placed to tackle such an iconic project.

Original star Harrison Ford returns as Rick Deckard and is joined by Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Robin Wright (Wonder Woman), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2), Ana de Armas (Knock, Knock), Mackenzie Davis (Black Mirror) and Jared Leto (Suicide Squad).

Blade Runner 2049 is released in cinemas on October 6th.