THR is now reporting that a prequel / sequel series is now in the works between Adult Swim and Crunchyroll. 'Blade Runner: Black Lotus' will be set in the years between 'Blade Runner' and 'Blade Runner 2049' - the year 2032, to be precise - and will see familiar characters from the two movies pop up in the story as well.
Precise plot details are scarce, but it's understood that the first season will run for thirteen episodes. Shinichiro Watanabe, who worked on anime classic 'Cowboy Bebop' has been hired as a creative producer whilst Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki are set to direct. Kamiyama worked on 'Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex' whilst Aramaki directed the 2004 adaptation of 'Appleseed'.
No voice cast has been confirmed as of yet, and no air date has been set, but bringing 'Blade Runner' into anime make s alot of sense. For one, Tokyo's Shibuya district was hugely influential on a lot of the designs for 'Blade Runner' back in 1982. Not only that, the subseuqent years have seen 'Blade Runner' influence countless directors, animators and more besides.
The anime series comes on the heels of confirmation that a 'Blade Runner' comic series - penned by screenwriter Michael Green - is set to begin production in the new year. Sadly, however, there's been no word on a follow-up to 'Blade Runner 2049' and given how badly the film performed commercially, it may be a while yet.
