You know a movie is one of the great cult classics in cinema history when forty years after its release continues to generate conversation almost like the first day. And there is little doubt that ‘Blade Runner’, Deckard and his status —or not— as a replicant is little less than the never-ending story.
Where I said I say I say…replicant?
Throughout the infinity of alternative montages of the film -maybe not so many, but that’s the feeling-, Ridley Scott was suggesting more and more strongly that his lead detective, tasked with ending synthetic beings, was actually one from them. Although on the other hand, Harrison Ford was never too convinced of it..
Legend has it that the protagonist of ‘Blade Runner’ came to argue intensely with Scott about the humanity of his character, but now, in an interview with Esquire on the occasion of the promotion of ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate’, has explained the reason for his mistrust of the filmmaker’s decision.
“I always knew I was a replicant. However, I wanted to resist it. I think a replicant would want to believe they were human. At least that’s what this replicant wanted.”
35 years after the release of the original title, Denis Villeneuve had a golden opportunity to completely settle the issue with his fantastic ‘Blade Runner 2049’, but instead he chose to leave the topic open for the joy and enjoyment of the fandom. This is how he justified it in an interview with CinemaBlend at that time.
“Deckard, in the movie, is not sure, just like we are, what his identity is. Because that’s what I love. I love the mystery. I find it very interesting. I love it. Harrison and Ridley keep arguing about it If you put them in the same room, they don’t agree. And they start to raise their voices a lot when they do. It’s really funny.”
My kingdom for being able to spy on Harrison Ford and Ridley Scott through a peephole as they get heated arguing about whether Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep…
In Espinof | The 34 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time