All The Right Movies Blade Runner 2049 (2017) | Ep. 117
Jul 18, 2025
Explore how Denis Villeneuve managed the daunting task of creating a sequel to the iconic original. Delve into the profound themes of memory and identity threaded through Ryan Gosling's journey as K. The intricate world-building featuring the Wallace Corporation adds a chilling layer of complexity. Renowned cinematographer Roger Deakins' stunning visuals and innovative sound design take center stage. The hosts also evaluate casting choices, including Harrison Ford's poignant return and the film's legacy in modern cinema.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Opening Borrowed From A Ridley Scott Draft
- The movie's opening was built from a rejected Ridley Scott idea, reworked for 2049 with new visuals and locations.
- Villeneuve shot real locations like a Spanish solar farm and Icelandic protein farm and used a concrete tree to anchor the sequence practically.
Baseline Test Recasts Thematic Stakes
- The baseline test in 2049 flips the original's empathy test into an obedience check, underscoring the film's focus on free will.
- Ryan Gosling rewrote and performed a long baseline take using 'dropping in' to make the scene feel like self-reprogramming.
Wallace's Temple: A Brutal, Minimalist Lair
- The Wallace birth scene was filmed on elaborate Budapest sets inspired by a Kyoto temple and used practical effects and dense design to show Wallace's godlike detachment.
- Jared Leto wore hand-painted opaque contacts and the set's nightingale-floor detail emphasized Wallace's curated, sterile world.
