“Blade Runner 2099” – Jonathan van Tulleken Directing Prime Video Series

Seven years after Denis Villeneuve’s feature film Blade Runner 2049, Blade Runner is headed to the small screen in Amazon’s Blade Runner 2099, and Deadline reports tonight that Jonathan van Tulleken (“Shōgun”) will direct and executive produce the first two episodes.

Tulleken replaces Jeremy Podeswa, who had previously been announced to direct.

Ridley Scott (Blade Runner) is executive producing the live action series, with Blade Runner 2099 said to be a follow-up to Blade Runner 2049.

“The latest installment of the neo-noir sci-fi franchise will be set 50 years after the film sequel.”

Blade Runner 2099 comes from Alcon Entertainment, Scott Free, and Amazon Studios. Silka Luisa (“Shining Girls”) is writing, showrunning and executive producing.

“The original Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, is considered one of the greatest and most influential science-fiction movies of all time, and we’re excited to introduce Blade Runner 2099 to our global Prime Video customers,” said Vernon Sanders, head of global television, Amazon Studios.

“We are honored to be able to present this continuation of the Blade Runner franchise, and are confident that by teaming up with Ridley, Alcon Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, and the remarkably talented Silka Luisa, Blade Runner 2099 will uphold the intellect, themes, and spirit of its film predecessors.”

Released in 1982, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was an adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. The 2017 sequel picked up the story years later.

In the original movie, “A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space, and have returned to Earth to find their creator.”

And in Villeneuve’s sequel, “Young Blade Runner K’s discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard, who’s been missing for thirty years.”