“Blade Runner” is an American neo-noir science fiction media franchise originating from the 1968 novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick, about the character of Rick Deckard. The first film adaptation was 1982’s “Blade Runner,” directed by Ridley Scott. Although the film initially underperformed at the American box office, it became a cult classic, and has had a significant influence on science fiction. A novelization and a comic adaptation of the film were released in the same year. From 1995 to 2000, three novels serving as sequels to both “Blade Runner” and the original novel were written by K. W. Jeter, a friend of Dick’s. A sequel film called “Blade Runner 2049” was released in 2017. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Blade Runner” in 2012, a short film was released, and in the lead up to the release of “Blade Runner 2049,” several more short films detailing events that occurred between 2019 and 2049 were released.
Former blade runner Rick Deckard is reluctantly forced back into service for one last assignment: eliminate four escaped Replicants from the colonies who have returned to Earth to find their creator.
Niander Wallace is called to a hearing about his desire to manufacture a new generation of replicants. Wallace is warned that what he is doing is illegal and not open to debate, which Wallace questions saying they are debating it. Wallace points out that Earth's ecosystem is collapsing and the only thing that will be able to sustain the human race is cheap labor provided by replicants. He also claims the new replicants are not dangerous to humans, but the lawmakers remain unconvinced. To prove this, he orders his replicant assistant, a newly developed Replicant, to purposely cut himself and then decide between Wallace's life and his own. The replicant then cuts his own throat, shocking the lawmakers. Wallace once again asks them if they are willing to authorize the production of new replicants.
In Los Angeles, in 2048, Sapper Morton is shown weeping hysterically into a mirror. He washes his face in a sink and puts on his glasses. Walking through a crowded street, he is briefly accosted by a group of thugs who he ignores. Greeted by Ella, he gives her the book ''The Power and the Glory'' to read, a book that he enjoyed. Leaving, Sapper goes to a market to sell leeches he has collected, being paid $3,000, which is $1,000 less than Sapper needs. After leaving the market, Sapper sees Ella and her Mother about to be sexually assaulted by the group of thugs he had earlier ignored. Angered, Sapper proceeds to savagely beat the group with seemingly superhuman strength and resilience, inadvertently killing most of them. Sapper leaves the scene, having dropped his identification papers. A spectator, having watched Sapper earlier, calls the LAPD to inform them that he thinks he's found a rogue "Replicant".
Set three years after the events of ''Blade Runner'', the Tyrell Corporation has developed the new Nexus-8 line of replicants, who now possess natural, open-ended lifespans equivalent to that of a regular human. This causes a massive backlash among the human populace, who begin hunting down and killing replicants, seeing them as a, now very credible, threat to humanity. One of these replicants, Trixie, is attacked by a group of thugs but is rescued by Iggy, who effortlessly disarms and kills the thugs. Iggy reveals to her that he used to be a soldier on a planet called Calantha, but deserted when he realized the enemy soldiers he had been fighting and killing were also replicants.
In 2049, 30 years after the disappearance of Rick Deckard, a new blade runner discovers a well-hidden secret and must go on a quest to find Rick in order to preserve the future of humanity and replicants.
Los Angeles 2032. A young woman wakes up with no memories, and possessing deadly skills. The only clues to her mystery are a locked data device and a tattoo of a black lotus. Putting together the pieces, she must hunt down the people responsible for her brutal and bloody past to find the truth of her lost identity.
The latest installment of the neo-noir sci-fi franchise that will be set 50 years after the film sequel.