Not all fans of director Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi classic Alien were pleased with the filmmaker’s recent return to that universe with Prometheus in 2012. However, undeterred by the film’s mixed response, Scott is still moving forward with plans for a sequel to that film (without the franchise’s signature creature) as well a follow-up to another of his most revered films, Blade Runner.

That 1982 release, of course, starred Harrison Ford as a police operative tasked with taking down a group of escaped “replicants” in a dystopian futuristic world. Its sequel has gained some momentum in recent months, with Scott proclaiming that the script has been completed and news that Ford was in early talks to star. Yet, there has been no concrete production schedule lined up for the film, and now we may know why.

Speaking with Yahoo! Movies, Scott revealed that he and Ford have been discussing the Blade Runner sequel as recently as the night before Ford’s injury on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII. Here’s what he had to say on the film’s progress:

“It’s on the charts. I can’t say when that would be yet, because of [Ford’s] thing with Star Wars. It’s a sequel – it’s what happens next. It’s quite surprisingly clever.”

If indeed Ford’s busy schedule is the primary reason that the Blade Runner sequel is being held up (and why Scott is shooting The Martian next instead), it’s certainly a valid one. After all, a production the size of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars sequel would take a sizeable chunk of available time off the table, especially considering Abrams reportedly retooled the Episode VII script to feature the original stars in more prominent roles than originally planned. That’s not even accounting for the time Ford needed to recover from his aforementioned injury.

While most fans will likely welcome more Han Solo, it’s still frustrating that the Blade Runner sequel keeps getting pushed back. If a sequel is going to happen, it’s arguably better off having Scott at the helm (though some Prometheus haters may feel otherwise) and Ford back in the lead role. At this rate, it would be nice to at least get a few tidbits about the “clever” angle Scott is teasing, but perhaps once Ford is officially on board, fans will finally start getting the answers they want.

Are you still excited about Blade Runner 2, and what do you think Scott has planned for the film? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Stay tuned to Screen Rant for updates on Blade Runner 2.

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