20 Things You Didn't Know About Blade Runner

19. Ridley Scott Originally Turned The Film Down

Blade Runner Ridley Scott Harrison Ford
Warner Bros.

After Hampton Fancher's screenplay was optioned, Ridley Scott was approached to direct Blade Runner. However, he initially declined, as he was about to start work on an adaptation Frank Herbert's Dune, which eventually became the notorious David Lynch flop of 1984.

Early on in Dune's development, Scott's older brother Frank died very suddenly. Struggling with his grief, and with very little progress happening on Dune's production, he agreed to direct Blade Runner instead. He believed the faster pace of the production would keep him busy, and would help him take his mind off Frank's death. Scott's recent bereavement is believed to have heavily influenced the film's gloomy tone and visual style.

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