Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve has told FANDOM that although the film’s poor performance at the US box office hasn’t completely obliterated the idea of a second sequel, it is likely to have an impact on where they take it.

“I will say that I think it didn’t kill the idea of maybe going forward, but maybe moving differently towards it,” he said. “The thing is, there’s two things. First, there’s the artistic success, and then the box office. Let’s say that from the artistic point of view the producer and the studio are very happy about the movie. Now, the box office in Europe was good, in the US it was disappointing.”

Finally watched #BladeRunner2049….it is RIDICULOUSLY better than the original. So good. pic.twitter.com/jD9Jsy4mJn — Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) January 12, 2018

Ridley Scott, who directed the original 1982 Blade Runner, recently told Vulture that he was responsible for the majority of the script but thought the film was “way too long.” Even more recently, Scott told Digital Spy that he has another story ready to “evolve and be developed” and confirmed that with regard to another film in the series, “there is certainly one to be done, for sure.”

When? That’s the Question

With both Scott and Villeneuve optimistic about taking the story further, it’s looking increasingly likely we’ll get another chapter in the dystopian tale. And Villeneuve doesn’t discount his involvement – in fact, he’s looking forward to thinking about the next part of the story.

“I had to make this one work first and see what happened next. So now I can start to dream about what will come next,” he said.

Hopefully we can get a sequel of #BladeRunner2049 before 2049… pic.twitter.com/ceyfdiNxmA — David ʬ⁸⁴ (@davidww_dc) January 8, 2018

Villeneuve says that Blade Runner 2049 was conceived and approached as a standalone film: “I was totally encouraged and asked to focus.” But as his thoughts begin turning to the next part of the story, he revealed what excites him is “when exactly this movie will take place.”

This raises questions about the possibilities of a prequel, a time jump, or even a film filling in the missing bits between Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. If you were expecting a film picking up where 2049 leaves off, you might be surprised.

Blade Runner 2049 is available in the US on digital download now and on Blu-Ray and DVD from January 16. In the UK, you can own it on download from January 29 and on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 5.