Jared Leto Joins Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling in ‘Blade Runner 2’
Jared Leto is just as pissed off as you are that his version of the Joker didn’t live up to the fan fervor in the critically panned Suicide Squad. But he’s not letting that get in the way of his next role: He’s joining Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling in director Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner sequel.
Like basically everything about this sequel to director Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi neo-noir classic, nothing is known about Leto’s role. In fact, the only thing that is known about Villeneuve’s stab at standing on the shoulders of giants is that the new story takes place a few decades after the original – and that Ford is reprising his role as Rick Deckard, the titular Blade Runner who is most definitely a replicant.
The rest of the cast is rounded out by actresses Robin Wright and Ana de Armas, who are also in as-yet unspecified roles.
Thankfully, the cast seems stacked, and Villeneuve has also surrounded himself with other top-level talent behind the cameras. The original writer Hampton Fancher returned to write the screenplay with co-writer Michael Green, and director of photography Roger Deakins, who previously worked with the director on Prisoners and Sicario – considered to be on the the best cinematographers working today – is also lending his talents.
Leto will obviously be a galvanizing casting choice for the sequel. People love to hate him, but he’s got an undeniable talent. Still, it makes you wonder what kind of role he’s taking up so late in the process considering filming on the sequel began in July. Throw some bleached blonde hair on him and hell make a great new version of evil replicant Roy Batty, played by Rutger Hauer in the first movie. Whatever role he does play here’s hoping that he doesn’t go to the desperate lengths he went to in Suicide Squad in his thirst for Joker publicity.
Just imagine Leto doing this, only way less subtle and way more hammy:
Villeneuve’s Blade Runner sequel is slated for release on October 6, 2017.
