History Trivia / BladeRunner

* WordOfDante: The continuiation novel ''Blade Runner 2: Edge of Human" by Creator/KWPeter claims Pris was an insane human woman who thought she was a replicant. This and other elements of that book and its two sequels are considered CanonDiscontinuity.

* BetterExportForYou: The American Ultra HD set includes the Final Cut in both 4K and 1080p, along with commentaries and two [=DVDs=]' worth of bonus features. The UK set swaps the two [=DVDs=] for Discs 2 and 3 of the 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray; this means that in addition to the US set's contents, it also includes four older versions of ''Blade Runner'' in 1080p, an HD art gallery, and a 2007 featurette about the updates made to the Final Cut.

* BetterExportForYou: The American Ultra HD set includes the Final Cut in both 4K and 1080p, along with commentaries and two [=DVDs=]' worth of bonus features. In the UK, this set also includes four older versions of ''Blade Runner'' in 1080p, an HD art gallery, and a 2007 featurette about the updates made to the Final Cut.

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: ''Blade Runner'' has been re-released many times. There's a Director's Cut, a Special Edition, a "Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition" (that comes in the same kind of metal briefcase as the Voight-Kampff machines), and a 3-Disc 30th Anniversary Edition.[[note]]The 30th Anniversary Edition compresses three discs of the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition into one 50 GB Blu-ray Disc and adds an HD Stills Gallery.[[/note]] The 5 versions included in the two newest releases include: The 1982 Workprint, The US Theatrical Cut, The International theatrical cut, The 1992 Director's cut, and the 2007 Final Cut. According to Wiki/TheOtherWiki there are ''two other versions'' that exist but aren't included in the current set (A TV broadcast version and a sneak preview version that uses deleted scenes).

* BetterExportForYou: The American Ultra HD set includes the Final Cut in both 4K and 1080p, along with commentaries and two DVDs' worth of bonus features. In the UK, this set also includes four older versions of ''Blade Runner'' in 1080p, an HD art gallery, and a 2007 featurette about the updates made to the Final Cut.

* CreatorBacklash: For a long time, Creator/HarrisonFord refused to talk about the film for years due to the miserable experience he had making it and generally expressed dislike about the film and working with Scott, and he also disliked the whole "replicant" debate. He became more positive about in TheOughties and TheNewTens and agreed to star in the sequel. He states that part of the reason he's mellowed is how ''Blade Runner'' has gone on to inspire many young directors and he's happy to be part of a classic. Ford also likes the 2007 Final Cut version best of all versions of the film, as does Ridley Scott.

* CreatorPreferredAdaptation: Creator/PhilipKDick died less than four months before the film premiered. During production he was critical of the screenplays and the multiple changes from the source material and the renaming of characters and concepts, but during a set visit he saw an earlier version with the effects, mainly the opening scene showing the skyline of Future-LA and was blown away by it and was impressed by Scott despite the fact that he admitted to not having read the source material. He felt that visually and aesthetically, the film, despite his initial misgivings about its departure from his novel ''Literature/DoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep'' was in synch with the spirit of his ideas.

** Deckard's whiskey glasses and bottle, trenchcoat and even the tiles in his apartment have been made into real (albeit insanely expensive) products. Even the [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/d163/ neon light umbrellas]] are available from Thinkgeek (albeit the Thinkgeek versions are more practical LED/fiber-optic rather than neon tubes).

** The scene with Chew was shot in a freezer and was ice cold, so the cast really were shivering.

* FlipFlopOfGod: Is Deckard a replicant? Director Creator/RidleyScott and lead actor Creator/HarrisonFord, as well as Rutger Hauer, screenwriters Hampton Fancher and David Peoples have all had contrasting views on the subject. Scott says yes; Ford, Hauer and the screenwriters say no. The novel on which the films based, ''Literature/DoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep'' states that the Deckard character is human. It's generally agreed upon that the evidence suggests Deckard is human in the Theatrical Cut and possibly a replicant in the Director's/Final Cuts. Albeit the hints were stronger in the 1992 version (via an extra line by Gaff that Scott removed for the Final Cut). According to Creator/MarkKermode the idea of Deckard being a replicant at all first arose from a misunderstanding between the two screenwriters (who had little contact with each other beyond shipping script revisions back and forth): One had written into the script a line about Deckard wondering about his own creator, which was intended as him comparing himself to replicants and the creator being God. The other writer thought this line meant Deckard was a replicant, and led to both thinking the other one put forth the idea first, and eventually Scott embraced it during production much to the confusion of his crew who all thought it was clear that Deckard was a human.

* InspirationForTheWork: According to WordOfGod the aesthetic sources for the film's futuristic setting of brilliant night lights and factories belching fire burning off waste gas, was the Port Talbot steelworks, Creator/RidleyScott having spent part of his childhood in Wales.

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: ''Blade Runner'' has been re-released many times. There's a Director's Cut, a Special Edition, a "Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition" (that comes in the same kind of metal briefcase as the Voight-Kampff machines), and a 3-Disc 30th Anniversary Edition.[[note]]The 30th Anniversary Edition compresses three discs of the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition into one 50 GB Blu-ray Disc and adds an HD Stills Gallery.[[/note]] The 5 versions included in the two newest releases include: The 1982 Workprint, The US Theatrical Cut, The International theatrical cut, The 1992 Director's cut and the 2007 Final Cut. According to Wiki/TheOtherWiki there are ''two other versions'' that exist but aren't included in the current set (A TV broadcast version and a sneak preview version which uses deleted scenes).

* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: Interest in adaptating ''Literature/DoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep'' began shortly after its publication in 1968.
** Producer Herb Jaffe optioned it in the early seventies, with his son Rob writing the script, but Creator/PhillipKDick was unimpressed with this draft. Dick recalled:

** Hampton Fancher's script was optioned in 1977. Producer Michael Deeley became interested in the script and convinced Creator/RidleyScott to direct. Scott was originally attached to direct ''Film/Dune1984'' until his brother, Frank Scott, died in 1980. Stricken with grief and eager to work while ''Dune'' stagnated, Ridley Scott left the project to direct ''Blade Runner'', which was all set to begin production. Scott officially came aboard in Feburary 1980.
* ScienceMarchesOn: Tyrell's explanation to Roy for why the DNA of a mature replicant can't be altered effectively doesn't stand up to modern understanding of genetics. Then again, this might be intentional, as the script hints that Tyrell may be lying about there being no possibility of lifting the lifespan limitation.

* WagTheDirector: Creator/HarrisonFord frequently argued with Creator/RidleyScott over whether or not Deckard is a replicant. He was backed by the film's screenwriters and others in the crew, since it was Scott and Scott alone who came up with that interpretation.

** This was offered to Creator/RalphBakshi. He passed on it, but recommended Creator/RidleyScott for the director's chair. And the rest is history...

** The second draft has a number of scenes in this script made it into the final film - the opening scene is almost identical, as is the briefing scene with Bryant, Deckard searching Leon's hotel room, and Deckard using the Voight-Kampff machine on Rachael under the supervision of Tyrell. Differences included a smaller role for Gaff, and a larger role for the Esper, which is a talking computer. The script ends with Deckard bringing Rachael out to the countryside so she can see snow for the first time, and shooting her. The last scene sees him driving back to the city musing about how the ability to choose is what makes us human. This version of the script also included Mary as the sixth replicant (still called androids at this stage).
** The third draft opens in an 'Off-world Termination Dump', a dumping ground for dead androids (by now called replicants). Two work men are shoveling bodies into a pit, when one of the bodies comes to life (Roy Batty). He pulls Mary and Leon from the pile and they kill the workmen. This version introduced the snake scale storyline, but does not have the chess game featured in the final film. Other differences include: a new replicant called Roger, who attacks Deckard in Leon's hotel room; a scene where Chew's frozen body is discovered and knocked over; in this draft, Tyrell turns out to be another replicant, after Roy kills him, Roy demands that Sebastian take him to the real Tyrell, and Sebastian reveals that Tyrell had an unnamed disease and was placed into a hibernation unit to await a cure. Roy demands that Sebastian wake Tyrell up, but Sebastian reveals that Tyrell died a year ago during a power outage at which point Roy kills Sebastian. After Tyrell's death, the entire replicant line is put on hold. There is also a scene where Deckard forces Gaff to take the Voight-Kampff test and subsequently kills him. This draft also ended with Deckard killing Rachael, but the scene now takes place on a beach. The final scene sees Deckard waiting in his apartment for the police raid due to his murder of Gaff.
** Scott initially wanted a more action-packed opening scene that would have set-up Deckard's ruthless character. It would have taken place in a house on the countryside where Deckard is silently sitting and waiting, while a pot of soup is boiling on a fire. Suddenly a man comes in wearing a protection suit and gas mask. He notices Deckard but ignores him, instead going to take some soup. He then addresses Deckard, but Deckard simply shoots him without saying a word, and then proceeds by removing the man's artificial lower jaw, proving that the victim is a Replicant. The idea was abandoned in later drafts. A slightly modified version of this scene would be used as the opening for [[Film/BladeRunner2049 the sequel.]]

* DoingItForTheArt: Gaff only speaks a few lines of [[ConLang Cityspeak]] in the film, but Eddie Olmos came up with an entire grammar and vocabulary for what it would actually sound like so he could sound like it was his actual native tongue.

* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/RidleyScott cast Creator/RutgerHauer without having met him, based solely on his performances in Creator/PaulVerhoeven's movies. Creator/PhillipKDick described him as "the perfect Batty – cold, Aryan, flawless".

** In the early 1970s, a relatively unknown young director named ''Creator/MartinScorsese'' was in line to direct the film.

** Creator/RidleyScott was originally attached to direct the latest incarnation of ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' until his brother, Frank Scott, died in 1980. Stricken with grief and eager to work while ''Dune'' stagnated, Ridley Scott left the project to direct ''Blade Runner'', which was all set to begin production.
** Creator/DustinHoffman was originally cast as Deckard. Scott intended to subvert the typical image of the burly HardboiledDetective, and Hoffman would fit that well. This period of the film's pre-production got so far that even some of the early storyboards featured Hoffman's likeness on images of Deckard. Creator/SeanConnery, Creator/RobertDuvall, Creator/ClintEastwood, Creator/PeterFalk, Creator/ScottGlenn, Creator/GeneHackman, Creator/JuddHirsch, Creator/RaulJulia, Creator/TommyLeeJones, Creator/PaulNewman, Creator/NickNolte, Creator/JackNicholson, Creator/AlPacino, Creator/BurtReynolds, Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger and Creator/ChristopherWalken were also considered. Creator/MartinSheen was offered the role, but he turned it down, as he was exhausted, having come off ''Film/ApocalypseNow''.

** Creator/RobertMitchum was reportedly considered for the role of Deckard at one point as a shout out to his own background in film noir thrillers, but declined the role - which is just as well as he would have been too old for the part anyway.

* OneTakeWonder: Hy Pyke managed to have a very [[EnsembleDarkhorse memorable turn]] in his only scene as sleazy bar owner Taffey Lewis all while doing it in a single take, which is remarkable since Creator/RidleyScott is known a notorious perfectionist when it comes to shooting and reshooting scenes.

* BeamMeUpScotty: The most famous line of Roy's monologue is "All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain," with the final part being often remembered as "tears in THE rain."

* VindicatedByReruns: The film was a box office disappointment, but became a science fiction classic on home video, especially after the release of the director's cut.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The synth-heavy soundtrack, treasure trove of ProductPlacement for defunct or dethroned companies, analog monitors, primitive computer displays, and heavy use of MiniatureEffects all date this film to the early 80's. The soundtrack in particular is representative of synthesizer-driven music in a pre-SynthPop era; even though the latter genre emerged around 1977 and became the dominant form of music by the time of the film's release, Music/{{Vangelis}}' much more ambient-oriented score is very much tethered to an era in which synths were utilized in a more experimental and/or musically progressive context.

* UsefulNotes/AFIS100YearsSeries:
** AFIS100Years100Thrills: #74
** AFIS100Years100Movies10THAnniversaryEdition: #97
** AFIS10Top10:
*** #6, Science Fiction

* AFIS100YearsSeries:

** ''Exterminator'' (Croatia)
** ''Calls Himself RNR'' (Bulgaria)
** ''The Relentless Hunter'' (Venezuela)
** ''Imminent Danger'' (Portugal)
** ''The Android Hunter'' (Poland; also TheForeignSubtitle in Brazil)
** ''Bounty Hunter'' (Romania)
** ''The Winged Bounty Hunter'' (Hungary)
** ''Silver Winged Bounty Hunter'' (China)

** Some cities, [[https://www.google.com/search?q=shanghai+looks+like+blade+runner particularly]] UsefulNotes/{{Shanghai}}, look more and more like ''Blade Runner'' every year. As Thom Andersen noted in his documentary ''Los Angeles Plays Itself'' this is because the film's production design was unintentionally reflective of avant-garde city-planning which they thought was supposed to indicate dystopia but are actually quite positive and effective. Also, Shanghai and Beijing have become far, far more polluted than Los Angeles ever was, making them atmospheric dead ringers for ''Blade Runner''.
** In 2020, a camera showcasing the Los Angeles skyline recorded hundreds of fireworks going off in the city on Independence Day. [[https://twitter.com/Mach_Dent/status/1279676293148221441 It looks remarkably like the opening shot of the film.]]

* LifeImitatesArt: In an incredibly eerie coincidence, Creator/RutgerHauer passed away in 2019 - the same year as his character.

* CelebrityVoiceActor: In the 1997 [[VideoGame/BladeRunner video game]], several characters are voiced by the actors who played them in the film.

* FocusGroupEnding: The original theatrical release featured Deckard and Rachael driving a car to happiness and freedom through lush green hills. This ending is a jarring non sequitur: implausible and theme-negating in a dystopian future-noir film. It's the direct product of a test audience screening. Oddly, the sequence is unused footage from the start of The Shining.