According to Deadline, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh has signed on for a major role in Prime Video’s long-in-development Blade Runner 2099 series, which serves as a sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2017 movie Blade Runner 2049.
Yeoh will appear in the series as a character named Olwen, who is described as “a replicant near the end of her life.” (via Variety).
This marks Yeoh’s latest sci-fi project following her acclaimed performances in the Star Trek: Discovery series as Captain Philippa Georgiou and in 2022’s Everything Everywhere All at Once movie as Evelyn. Besides Blade Runner 2099, she’s also attached to appear in a number of upcoming high-profile movies such as Wicked and the next Avatar sequel, as well as in the TV spinoff Star Trek: Section 31.
Who’s involved in Blade Runner 2099?
Blade Runner 2099 was first announced back in September 2022, with Jodie Comer previously in negotiations to lead the series. It will be directed and executive produced by Shōgun’s Jonathan van Tulleken, who had joined the project after director Jeremy Podeswa left due to scheduling conflicts caused by last year’s Hollywood strikes. The series is written and executive produced by showrunner Silka Luisa. Executive producers are Michael Green, Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Ben Roberts, David W. Zucker, Clayton Krueger, Cynthia Yorkin, Frank Giustra, Isa Dick Hackett, Tom Spezialy, and Richard Sharkey.
“The original Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott, is considered one of the greatest and most influential science-fiction movies of all time, and we’re excited to introduce Blade Runner 2099 to our global Prime Video customers,” Amazon boss Vernon Sanders said in a statement when the project received an official series order. “We are honored to be able to present this continuation of the Blade Runner franchise, and are confident that by teaming up with Ridley, Alcon Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, and the remarkably talented Silka Luisa, Blade Runner 2099 will uphold the intellect, themes, and spirit of its film predecessors.”
Production has already begun in Prague.
