We found out a while ago that Blade Runner 2049 screenwriter Michael Green was working with Titan Comics to bring the world of Blade Runner to the comic book and graphic novel audience (here) but it seems that, while we’re unlikely to get another Blade Runner movie, the world is set to be expanded in a major way.
Alcon Entertainment, Adult Swim and Crunchyroll are producing Blade Runner: Black Lotus
Blade Runner: Black Lotus will feature thirteen 30-minute episodes produced by animation studio Sola Digital Arts (Ultraman). Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) will direct all episodes of the premiere season, which will follow their current directorial work on the upcoming Ghost in the Shell series reboot.
So, this is pretty major anime roots for the series which, while being kept secretive, we have learned a few things about, namely that it will be set in 2032 and we’ll see some familiar Blade Runner characters.
Which, given the timeline, has to be Deckard-era characters… and there’s a lot of ground between the two movies to be covered.
Jason DeMarco, svp/creative director of Adult Swim on-air had this to say: “I first saw Blade Runner in 1982, at age 11. It has remained one of the defining films of my life.
“To be able to explore more of this universe, with the incredible talent we have on board, is a dream come true.”
Alcon’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson said: “The Blade Runner universe is an incredibly deep well for story and character with its world and mythology that audiences have been debating and talking about since inception.
“We are excited to continue exploring that world via this anime series.”
While we’re still annoyed there’s unlikely to be more movies – not that we can complain as the two we got are masterpieces – it’s nice to know that the world will continue and expand and in two of our favourite mediums.
What do you all think?
To give you a taste of what a Blade Runner animated series would look/feel like, here’s the animated short, Blade Runner: Black Out 2022 which was a prequel to the release of Blade Runner 2049:
Source: Flickeringmyth
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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