Blade Runner 2099 cast gets a serious upgrade as Everything Everywhere All at Once star joins Prime Video series
Amazon is trying to replicate the success of its Fallout TV show
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Amazon’sBlade Runner 2099TV show has reportedly found its lead star in Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh.
According toVariety, Yeoh has signed on as the forthcomingPrime Videoseries' protagonist. Details are thin on the ground about who Yeoh will play, but Variety suggests she’ll portray one of the franchise’s replicants, who goes by the name Olwen, and whose life is nearing its end.
Yeoh recently starred in multi-Academy Award winnerEverything Everywhere All at Once, as well asNetflixshows includingThe Witcher: Blood OriginandThe Brother Sun. The fan-favorite actor is also known for starring inMarvelmovieShang-Chi,Crazy Rich Asians,Star Trek: Discovery, andCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yeoh, then, seems like a perfect fit for playing an emotionally complex character inBlade Runner’s dense, action-filled, and sci-fi-driven world.
Michelle Yeoh will star in Amazon Prime Video’s “Blade Runner 2049” sequel series “Blade Runner 2099.” Plot details are being kept under wraps, but sources say Yeoh will play a replicant near the end of her life named Olwen. https://t.co/u8skUDdWbeMay 7, 2024
Yeoh’s apparent involvement inBlade Runner 2099is the latest news to emerge about the show as Amazon MGM Studios ramps up production on its next big sci-fi series. Until recently, the only information we had on the project, which will act as a sequel toBlade RunnerandBlade Runner 2049, was that Amazon landed the rights – in September 2022 – to bring the series to Prime Video, aka one of the world’sbest streaming services. Amazon’s acquisition came 10 months afterRidley Scott confirmed that aBlade RunnerTV show was in development.
Now it appears thatBlade Runner 2099is powering up to enter full production. In February,Deadlineclaimed that Jonathan Van Tulleken, who helmed two episodes ofShogun– one of thebest Disney Plus shows– had signed on to directBlade Runner 2099’s first two entries. Principal photography was expected to start in Prague in the Czech Republic in April, but Amazon hasn’t confirmed that filming is underway yet.
I’ve reached out to Amazon MGM Studios for an official comment on Yeoh’s reported involvement, as well as an update on whether filming has begun, and I’ll update this article if I hear back.
Prime-d to be another sci-fi hit?
Apple TV Plusmight be many people’s go-to streamer for science-fiction television, and considering how good its lineup of sci-fi shows is – I countFoundation,Severance,Silo, andFor All Mankindamong thebest Apple TV Plus showsaround – that’s not a huge surprise.
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Amazon’s own catalog of sci-fi genre fare, though, isn’t too far away from givingApple’s a run for its money. From underrated offerings likeOuter RangeandUpload, to big hitters, such asThe Expanseand recent runaway success in itsFalloutTV show, some of thebest Prime Video showsare also found in its sci-fi category.
The hope, then – at least from Amazon’s viewpoint – is thatBlade Runner 2099can add its name to Prime Video’s growing list of top-tier sci-fi offerings. Understandably, we won’t be able to see if it can or not until the series is released; but, with the likes of Yeoh and Tulleken seemingly attached to the project, plus Amazon’s recent successes in the sci-fi TV show field, its streaming division will be confident of giving its sci-fi library an meaningful upgrade whenBlade Runner 2099eventually debuts.
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As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.
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