Blade Runner 2 Release Date, Cast News: Harrison Ford Agrees to Sequel, Production Starts 2016

Hollywood actor Harrison Ford has agreed to go on board and make a sequel to his 1982 science fiction film "Blade Runner."

"We are honored that Harrison is joining us on this journey with Dennis Villeneuve, who is a singular talent, as we experienced personally on 'Prisoners,'" said Alcon Entertainment founders Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson in statement, according to the Huffington Post.

"Hampton [Fancher] and Michael [Green], with Ridley Scott, have crafted a uniquely potent and faithful sequel to one of the most universally celebrated films of all time, and we couldn't be more thrilled with this amazing, creative team," they said.

Fancher and David Peoples were the writers of the original film. Ford was offered the role last year.

Villenueve is being tapped to direct the "Blade Runner" sequel.

Alcon acquired the film rights to "Blade Runner" in 2011 from producer Bud Yorkin, according to The Wrap.

Yorkin will be a producer in the sequel together with Kosove and Johnson. Frank Giustra and Tim Gable of Thunderbird Films will be the executive producers.

Last December, Scott told MTV News that Ford became excited when he read the script he sent.

"I sent him this (script) and he said, 'Wow, this is the best thing I've ever read,' so it's very relevant to what happened (in) the first one," said Scott. "I'm not just doing a sequel with lots of action and see how far we can go with the special effects because you can't really. 'Blade Runner' kind of landed on a somehow very credible future. And it's very difficult to change that because it's been so influential with everything else."

The "Blade Runner" sequel will take place several decades after the end of the original film. Production will start in the summer of 2016, with a release not expected until at least 2017.