If the ‘Blade Runner 2049’ Trailer Came Out in 1982
It’s been 35 years since Ridley Scott’s original Blade Runner debuted and forever changed the landscape of science-fiction cinema. And 35 years later, the film is making an improbable comeback in theaters this fall in Blade Runner 2049, produced by Scott and directed by Denis Villeneuve. Harrison Ford returns to his role as Blade Runner Rick Deckard, with Ryan Gosling joining him as Officer K and Jared Leto playing himself (we think).
35 years is one of the longest gaps between entries in any movie franchise in history. Which got us wondering: What if Blade Runner 2049 had come out in the early 1980s, right after the original Blade Runner? What would the film’s trailer look like? That inspired the clip above, which takes the style of the original film’s coming attraction and applies it to the upcoming sequel. Throw in a pan-and-scan aspect ratio, and the results are pretty effective.
For sake of comparison, here’s the official Blade Runner 2049 trailer:
And here’s the original Blade Runner clip where we drew our inspiration:
Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 opens in theaters on October 6. We can’t guarantee it, but we have to assume the final film will be slightly less grainy (and slightly more widescreen) than our retro trailer. In the meantime, check out some of ScreenCrush’s other retro trailers and credits for current and recent blockbusters: