Blade Runner 2099 cancels Northern Ireland filming plans; Amazon gives refunds

Blade Runner 2099 is the latest big-budget product to announce changes to its shooting schedule this year. The television series will no longer be filmed in Northern Ireland. The BBC reports that Blade Runner 2099, commissioned by Amazon and with Ridley Scott, the film director of the original Blade Runner (pictured below) on board as executive producer, would be filmed on location in Belfast from Belfast Harbor Studios. Filming of the series was previously postponed due to the actors' and writers' strike.



Although the reason for the change remains unclear, Northern Ireland Screen director Richard Williams expressed his disappointment in a statement:

“We are conscious that these difficult decisions do happen in the screen industry, particularly with the most expensive projects which carry the greatest expectations.

“This obviously leaves a gap in Northern Ireland’s production schedule and Northern Ireland Screen will do everything it can to plug that gap as quickly as possible, mindful that many freelance crew and supply chain companies were relying on this project for work.”

The BBC reports that Northern Ireland Screen had given the production £4.1m in screen funding, money which will now be returned.

The series was planned as a 10-parter, following on from the events of the films. Harrison Ford starred in the original 1982 film. While the first film enjoyed a meager initial box office, it enjoyed longrunning cult status with sci-fi fans, and the sequel Blade Runner 2049, co-starring Ford and Ryan Gosling, made $267m on its release in 2017.