The filming of the Blade Runner 2099 series, co-produced by legendary feature helmer Ridley Scott, in Belfast, has been delayed in the wake of the ongoing WGA strike. Scott is producing the project under his banner, Scott Free Production, along with Amazon Studios and Alcon Entertainment.
The re-commencement of filming depends upon how the ongoing writers’ strike culminates. Though, it is unclear how many staff members in Northern Island will be impacted by the strike. Apart from Blade Runner 2099’s production, the production of the live-action adaptation of the hit animated movie series, How To Train Your Dragon, is also going on in Belfast.
Northern Island Screen revealed this about the production of Blade Runner 2099 series via a recently released statement:
“Northern Ireland Screen is extremely disappointed that Blade Runner 2099 is not going ahead at this time due to the ongoing writers’ strike. The project has been prepping on the ground in Belfast for many months now. The WGA strike has been halting production all over the world, and we hope a fair deal is reached soon so the crew can get back to work.”
Amazon Prime Video greenlighted the project in September 2022. The production started in early Spring 2023. In March of that year, Amazon announced that Game of Thrones director, Jeremy Podeswa, would helm the pilot episode. No cast member has been disclosed by the streaming service.
It means that the upcoming Blade Runner 2099 series may arrive next year on Prime Video.
The original Blade Runner (released in 1982) failed at the box office but earned critical acclaim from viewers. Now, it is considered a cult classic. Then, its sequel Blade Runner 2049, starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford, came out in 2017. The Denis Villeneuve directional received praise for its action, visuals, performances, cinematography, and many more. However, some critics did not like the film’s long runtime. Now, we have Amazon’s Blade Runner 2099 series, which may arrive on the streaming platform next year. Stay tuned for more updates.