When Blade Runner 2049 finally arrives, one of the biggest mysteries left over from the original film may not be solved after all. Harrison Ford is somewhat adamant that the idea of his character Deckard being a replicant or not should remain a mystery.
What Happened
On Wednesday, GQ published a revealing and hilarious interview with Harrison Ford written by Chris Heath. Ford’s trademark charming grouchiness pervades much of the interview. But, Heath notes that even Ford’s evasiveness is great: “I could spend all day listening to Harrison Ford try to find ways to stop me from asking him things,” he writes. So, when Ford did talk about the specifics of one big Blade Runner topic, there was a surprising result. Basically, Ford fundamentally disagrees with Ridley Scott about the whether or not Deckard is a replicant. Scott thinks Deckard totally is, but Ford thinks ambiguity is the way to go.
“I’m interested in preserving the question for the audience,” he said. “I mean, part of the idea of whether or not he’s a replicant is that there’s not a definitive answer.” Apparently, even co-star Ryan Gosling and director Denis Villeneuve are privy to the ongoing battle between Ford and Scott over this question. “Two of my heroes at the same table, drinking great Hungarian wine, both of them arguing about the fact that they still don’t agree about if Deckard’s a replicant or a human,” Villeneuve said.
What it Means
Historically, Harrison Ford’s opinions on the meaning of his roles don’t have much bearing on the writing of the films or the intentions of the directors. As an actor, Ford certainly embodies his characters, but he doesn’t control them. So, fans could take this with a grain of salt. Still, the fact that Villeneuve has acknowledged the existence of the debate is striking. Which, could mean that the debate as to Deckard’s humanity or replicant-ness might not get settled in Blade Runner 2049 after all.
What’s Next
According to a Variety report on Thursday, Blade Runner 2049 is tracking to pull in 40 million at the US box office. There is also a press embargo for Blade Runner that won’t be lifted until the day the film is released. So, if there are some huge reveals in the film — like Deckard’s replicant status — those details will probably be withheld for as long as possible.
Blade Runner 2049 hits theaters on October 6.
