Ridley Scott has confirmed that Drive star Ryan Gosling is likely to appear in Blade Runner 2.
The legendary filmmaker was promoting his latest movie The Martian, when he started to discuss the sci-fi sequel, which is being directed by Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners) with Scott serving as producer.
The Alien filmmaker spoke to Den of Geek about Gosling's potential casting alongside original star Harrison Ford.
He said: "I spent the last two years writing what will be a sequel, and it’s done. I’m not doing it. Denis Villeneuve’s doing it, which I think is a good choice.
“Harrison is in, and the other person - I’m not certain yet, but, I shouldn’t say who. But there’s somebody else who’s very good, very interesting. I think Ryan Gosling is probably going to do it, with Harrison".
The Gladiator director was then asked whether Gosling would have a central role, to which he responded “Yeah, yeah. I can’t really say more than that, because it’ll give away the story. But Harrison’s definitely in it. In an important way".
Of course, if an A-list leading man like Gosling is cast in the movie – then is likely he will be playing one of the central roles.
Scott also discussed an unnamed director who declined to helm the sci-fi follow-up.
He said: "It's a hard one. I asked somebody before, who I though would be right - I would rather not say who it is. He just said 'I'm not going to do that, I'm never going to follow through on that"'.
The original iconic 1982 film was an adaptation of Philip K Dick's 1968 novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Directed by Scott, and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, the film initially received a lukewarm critical response, and grossed a disappointing $33.8 million from a $28 million budget.
However, the movie – thanks in part to the famed Director's Cut (1992) and The Final Cut (2007) -- is now considered one of the finest motion pictures of all time.
Indeed, a sequel, which is not a direct adaptation of Dick's work, is a fairly controversial subject among science fiction fans and the wider movie community.
Blade Runner 2 will be hitting screens sometime in 2017.
Image: FilmDistrict