Why Blade Runner Fans Must Watch These 3 Short Films Before 2099

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In a challenging situation where he had to live up to Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking sci-fi masterpiece “Blade Runner“, director Denis Villeneuve delivered admirably with the film “Blade Runner 2049”. The movie was critically acclaimed, earning two out of the five Academy Awards it was nominated for, including a well-deserved recognition for the exceptional work of cinematographer Roger Deakins.

Despite the enduring popularity of the movie, it’s possible that both casual and dedicated viewers might have overlooked the trilogy of prequel shorts that were released prior to Blade Runner 2049 in October 2017. Even our team didn’t catch them at the time. Remarkably, two of these shorts were helmed by Ridley Scott’s son, Luke. With the upcoming conclusion of the Blade Runner 2099 TV series, fans of Blade Runner 2049 should definitely revisit these three short films that help weave the cinematic universe together.

‘Blade Runner Black Out 2022’

In September 2017, the animated short film titled “Blade Runner Black Out 2022” premiered on Crunchyroll. This 15-minute production was directed by renowned Japanese director Shinichiro Watanabe. Set three years after Ridley Scott’s original Blade Runner, the story unfolds with Tyrell Corporation introducing a new series of Nexus-6 replicants. The narrative centers around Trixie, a unique replicant with an extended lifespan, who encounters trouble from human thugs. However, she receives aid from Iggy Cygnus (played by Jovan Jackson), a rebellious replicant who defected after discovering he was combating fellow replicants.

Iggy guides Trixie towards an undercover rebellion group, who aim to dismantle Tyrell Corporation’s communication systems, making it harder for them to monitor replicants’ locations. In their encounter, they meet Ren (played by Bryson Baugus), a human collaborator possessing the power to launch nuclear missiles. The threesome concoct a scheme to detonate a missile above Los Angeles, obliterating the corporation’s data center and causing a citywide blackout that compels them to navigate the darkened cityscape at night.

The short film’s greatness, beyond its stunning animation, lies in connecting the story between the initial Blade Runner and 2049. After a global disaster caused by a power outage, The Wallace Corporation takes over from the bankrupt Tyrell Corporation. In the year 2049, K (Ryan Gosling), a Nexus-9 replicant produced by the Wallace Corporation, uncovers clues that eventually bring him face-to-face with the original Blade Runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford).

‘2036: Nexus Dawn’ Stars a ‘Blade Runner 2049’ Actor

2036: Nexus Dawn, a 6-minute live-action short film, premiered on August 30, 2017. This film was directed by Luke Scott, who is Ridley Scott’s son. The story takes place in 2036, and Jared Leto portrays Niander Wallace, the CEO of Wallace Corporation as he does in 2049. Here, Wallace meets with political figures to discuss the mass production of his latest replicant line. Throughout the negotiations, Wallace emphasizes that an urgent environmental concern necessitates giving replicants the power to safeguard our planet.

If the council remains unmoved by his arguments, Niander stuns them with a chilling demonstration. He presents a newly developed Nexus-9 replica, assuring that it is harmless towards humans. Niander then instructs this replica to make a choice between its own existence and Niander’s life. The replica, demonstrating obedience, takes the drastic step of slashing its throat in front of the council. Having witnessed such violent loyalty, Niander seeks permission for mass-producing the Nexus-9 replicas.

2036: Nexus Dawn serves as an intriguing bridge connecting to the larger Blade Runner universe, albeit shorter than Black Out 2022. It sheds light on Niander Wallace’s manipulative and powerful influence before the events of 2049, portraying a cunning leader whose political machinations became even more sophisticated over the ensuing 13 years. Fans of both the original and sequel will find delight in the unforeseen self-destructive actions of the replicant.

‘2048: Nowhere to Run’ Ties Directly to ‘Blade Runner 2049’

A year prior to Blade Runner 2049, the short film titled 2048: Nowhere to Run, directed by Luke Scott, stands out as particularly relevant among the tie-ins. In this six-minute narrative, Dave Bautista portrays Sapper Morton, a Nexus-8 replicant, who is deeply involved in safeguarding a vulnerable mother-daughter pair in Los Angeles. The short story opens with a weary Sapper wandering into the Los Angeles throng and encountering a young girl named Ella (Gaia Ottman). Before embarking on his journey to sell his goods for barely anything, Sapper shares a beloved book with the little girl.

Upon getting back home from the market, Sapper notices Ella and her mom are being threatened by violent street gangs. Without hesitation, he steps in to protect them, dealing harsh blows to the thugs with brutal force. Most of them end up badly injured and bleeding profusely. However, the sight of Ella and her mother’s terrified reactions leaves Sapper feeling troubled. He eventually departs but unfortunately loses his ID papers, unintentionally revealing his true identity as a Nexus-8 Replicant.

When someone testifies to the LAPD that they saw Sapper acting suspiciously, like a rogue replicant, this sets the stage for the events depicted in “Blade Runner 2049.” In this movie, K is tasked with retiring Sapper Morton during his initial assignment, which leads him on a journey to locate Rick Deckard and ultimately face off against Niander Wallace.

Instead of isolated incidents, the three Blade Runner shorts significantly influence and provide depth to the events in Blade Runner 2049. They also offer insights into the gaps between the scenes in Ridley Scott’s original concept. Therefore, both enthusiastic and casual fans are encouraged to spend the approximately 27 minutes and watch all three shorts, particularly before the release of Blade Runner 2099 on television. You can find these three Blade Runner short films on YouTube, while Blade Runner 2049 is available for rental on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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2025-04-20 23:05