Ridley Scott has once again addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the multiple versions of Blade Runner, insisting that the Final Cut is the definitive edition.
Speaking to The Guardian, the director noted that while some fans continue to defend the 1982 theatrical release, he believes time will settle the matter. “I think they all had their day,” Scott said. “It’s only a matter of time before all Blade Runner fans embrace The Final Cut.”
Since its release, Blade Runner has seen seven versions, including the censored 1986 CBS broadcast. While international theaters screened a slightly more explicit cut, both the US and international theatrical versions retained the controversial happy ending. The 1992 Director’s Cut was long regarded as definitive until the 2007 Final Cut superseded it.
Scott also reflected on the criticism the film initially received. “The big critic at the time [Blade Runner was released], Pauline Kael, destroyed me in four pages in the New Yorker. She said, ‘He may have a weak jaw, that’s why he’s got a beard,’” he recalled. “She’d never even met me!” Kael acknowledged Scott’s striking visuals but argued the film lacked emotional depth.
Despite the backlash, Scott holds no regrets though he hasn’t forgotten. “I framed the pages [of Kael’s review] and they are still in my office. I glance at them occasionally and go, ‘F**k you, Pauline,’” he admitted.
Upon its 1982 release, Blade Runner struggled at the box office, earning $41.8 million against a $30 million budget and competing with heavyweights like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and The Thing. However, it later achieved cult status, influencing a generation of filmmakers and music video directors. “The film didn’t play very well, and what happened was it grew like a monster with a fan base,” Scott explained to IGN. “It really started to evolve big-time with MTV… we heard that Blade Runner was infecting all the rock video directors and the bands.”
Looking ahead, Scott emphasized that the Blade Runner universe, like Star Wars, thrives on expansion. “George [Lucas] has always proved that. You know, and the way he’s handled Star Wars has been spectacular. It’s what I’ve been trying to do to really evolve Alien,” he said. “In those days I wasn’t into making sequels, but now suddenly you realize, ‘Well, that’s stupid.’ You’d better get into sequels, duh.”
Although originally slated to direct Blade Runner 2049, scheduling conflicts forced Scott to step back, with Denis Villeneuve taking the reins. He now serves as executive producer for the franchise’s upcoming chapter, Blade Runner 2099.
Source: CBR