Blade Runner 2099 Trailer Reveals Post-Human Mystery in New York Comic Con Debut

Key points

• The series is set 50 years after 'Blade Runner 2049' in a Los Angeles where replicants have won an uprising and humans are second-class citizens.
• Michelle Yeoh plays Olwen, a replicant Blade Runner nearing the end of her life, who is hunting a missing colleague named Merrick.
• Hunter Schafer plays Cora, a human fugitive who goes undercover as a Blade Runner to protect her brother and partner with Olwen.
• The showrunner Silka Luisa described the series as a 'birth' of a new society, exploring the identity crisis of both humans and replicants.
• The series features a distinct visual aesthetic, including blue nail beds for Yeoh's character to signify her dying state, inspired by the original 1982 film.

Background

The 'Blade Runner' franchise originated from Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' The first film adaptation, directed by Ridley Scott, released in 1982, followed by 'Blade Runner 2049' in 2017, directed by Denis Villeneuve. This new limited series marks the first time the franchise has been adapted into a television series, expanding the universe beyond the two films.

How outlets are covering it

Variety and Deadline focused on the cast and the premise of the fugitive partnership, while The Hollywood Reporter emphasized the philosophical themes of identity and mortality discussed by the showrunner. Dark Horizons highlighted the visual changes in Los Angeles and the power shift to replicants. All outlets agreed on the November 25 premiere date and the core plot points.

Why it matters

The series expands the 'Blade Runner' universe into a new medium, exploring the consequences of a replicant uprising and the changing dynamics of human and artificial life. It also marks a significant step for the franchise, moving from films to a limited series format.

What to watch

The eight-episode limited series 'Blade Runner 2099' will premiere on Prime Video on November 25, 2026. The first two episodes were directed by Jonathan van Tulleken.