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Wondering what’s on the development table this week? Amazon Studios announced this week it has put into priority development a new “Blade Runner” series. The project will serve as a follow-up to the 2017’s hit film, “Blade Runner 2049.” Along with this new series, Netflix also is working on an upcoming project. The streamer has put into development a film adaptation of the popular video game, “BioShock.” Lastly, Paramount and Sega Corp are hard at work with their installments of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise. Several outlets have reported that the companies are developing not just a third film, but a live-action series that will star a different character—Knuckles. Find out what else we know about these exciting developments below:
“Blade Runner 2099” Series
According to Deadline, Amazon Studios has announced they have put into development a live-action “Blade Runner” series entitled “Blade Runner 2099.” Ridley Scott will return to the “Blade Runner” universe to executive produce the series, which will serve as a follow-up to 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049,” which starred Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, and more. It’s unclear if the series will incorporate any of the previous two films’ characters or will start from scratch while otherwise staying true to previous works. What is known, though, is that the project is in priority development at Amazon, according to Deadline. Staffing is underway for the writing room, and scripts are reportedly being fast-tracked. Silka Luisa (the upcoming Apple TV+ series “Shining Girls”) has already come on board and will write and executive produce. No directors have been announced at this time, but it is possible that Scott would come on to direct “if the series movies forward,” according to the trade publication’s sources. The previous film “Blade Runner 2049” had Francine Maisler and Lucinda Syson on its casting team, but a casting team/director for “Blade Runner 2099” has yet to be announced.
“BioShock” Movie
With “Uncharted” on the boards with its theatrical release this week, another game has been added to the video game-to-live-action adaptation slate. According to Variety, Netflix announced this past week that it is currently working on an adaptation of the hit game “BioShock.” The streamer has joined forces with 2K, Take-Two Interactive, and Vertigo Entertainment to produce the project, which is only now in the development stage. First released in 2007 and followed by “BioShock 2” and “BioShock Infinite,” the “BioShock” series is “set across multiple dystopian and visionary landscapes gone wrong,” from the underwater city of Rapture to the airborne city of Columbia. In the first game, which presumably will be the focus of the Netflix project, you play as Jack, the sole survivor of a plane crash who comes upon the (mostly) desolate underwater city of Rapture. This will be the second time an adaptation of the game has been attempted after a scrapped version at Universal all the way back in 2009. Whether this version gets off the ground has yet to be seen, and there’s no director or talent attached at this time, but Netflix asks: would you kindly stay tuned?
Live-Action “Knuckles” Series
With its second “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie already set to release this spring, Paramount Pictures and Sega Corp are picking up the pace on even more projects. According to Deadline, The two companies announced this week that had not only begun development on a third installment to the franchise but are also (with Paramount+) working on a live-action “Sonic” series. The new show will focus on the character of Knuckles. Idris Elba, who voices the character in the film series, will reportedly return to voice the role for the television series. The Jeff Fowler-directed sequel “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” is due out on April 8. Corrine Clark and Jennifer Page are the casting directors for the film and will presumably also return for the third installment, as well as the series.
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