After 25 years, the ultimate edition of Blade Runner is about here, and we are psyched.

The film, considered by many to be one of the top ten science fiction movies of all time, and certainly one of the most influential, has held up amazingly well, along with its vision of a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world.

It also features an amazing soundtrack by Vangelis. The Blade Runner soundtrack mixes a variety of elements, including synthesized orchestration, percussion, vocals and acoustic instruments, and helped define the genre of symphonic electronica.

The updated cut was premiered in New York and LA earlier in the month. Unfortunately, there don’t appear to be plans for a broader rerelease.

Here’s the trailer for the rerelease:

Warner Home Video will release on DVD December 18th in the U.S. Blade Runner: The Final Cut, restored and remastered from original elements and scanned at 4K resolution, will contain never-before-seen added/extended scenes, added lines, new and improved special effects, director and filmmaker commentary, an all-new 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track and more.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut will be included in three DVD editions:

• a Two-Disc Special Edition (at $20.97 SRP),
• a Four-disc Collector’s Edition ($34.99 SRP) and
• the Five-Disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition ($78.92 SRP) in Collectible “Deckard Briefcase” packaging.

Simultaneous HD DVD and Blu-Ray versions (each $TBD) of the “Deckard Briefcase” will also be released in numbered, limited quantities. HD DVD and Blu-Ray 5-Disc Digi Packs with collectible slipcase (each $TBD) will include all of the UCE content. Order due date for all editions is November 13.

I haven’t seen any word on a new version of the soundtrack. Let me know in the comments if you’ve heard anything on this!

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

Ford, Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, Joanna Cassidy, Sean Young and Daryl Hannah are among some 80 stars, filmmakers and others who participate in the bonus features. Among the bonus material highlights is Dangerous Days – a brand new, three-and-a-half-hour documentary by award-winning DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika, with an extensive look into every aspect of the film: its literary genesis, its challenging production and its controversial legacy. The definitive documentary to accompany the definitive film version.

Additionally, two of the collections (4- & 5-Disc) will include an entire disc with hours of enhanced content containing featurettes and galleries devoted to over 45 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes recently discovered in deep storage and approved by Ridley Scott, visual effects as well as background on author Philip K. Dick, script development, abandoned sequences, conceptual design, overall impact of the film and how it lead to the birth of cyberpunk. Trailers, TV spots and promotional featurettes will also be included.

Among some of the fascinating factoids talked about in the special features:

• Notable actual locations were used to reflect 2019 Los Angeles, such as Union Station, 2nd Street tunnel and the Bradbury building.
• The top of Police Headquarters is actually part of the Mothership from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
• In the last scene, Rutger Hauer made the jump between buildings himself.
• In the fight scene between Daryl Hannah and Harrison Ford, Hannah pulled Ford’s nose so hard that his nose actually bled afterwards.
• Holding a dove, and letting it fly away, in the last scene was never in the script, but rather Rutger Hauer’s idea when filming the scene.
• “Dangerous Days” was originally the name of the script.

“The Final Cut is the product of a process that began in early 2000 and continued off and on through seven years of intense research and meticulous restoration, technical challenges, amazing discoveries and new possibilities,” said Sir Ridley Scott. “I can now wholeheartedly say that Blade Runner: The Final Cut is my definitive director’s cut of the film.”

DETAILS OF BLADE RUNNER EDITIONS

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT SPECIAL EDITION (2-DISC)

Disc One

RIDLEY SCOTT’S ALL-NEW “FINAL CUT” VERSION OF THE FILM

Restored and remastered with added & extended scenes, added lines, new and cleaner special effects and all new 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio. Also includes:

* Commentary by Ridley Scott
* Commentary by Executive Producer/ Co-Screenwriter Hampton Fancher and Co-Screenwriter David Peoples; Producer Michael Deely and production executive Katherine Haber
* Commentaries by visual futurist Syd Mead; production designer Lawrence G. Paull, art director David L. Snyder and special photographic effects supervisors Douglas Trumbull, Richard Yuricich and David Dryer

Disc Two

DOCUMENTARY DANGEROUS DAYS: MAKING BLADE RUNNER

A feature-length authoritative documentary revealing all the elements that shaped this hugely influential cinema landmark. Cast, crew, critics and colleagues give a behind-the-scenes, in-depth look at the film — from its literary roots and inception through casting, production, visuals and special effects to its controversial legacy and place in Hollywood history.

BLADE RUNNER: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (4-DISC)

The Four-Disc Collector’s Edition includes everything from the 2-Disc Special Edition plus three additional versions of the film, as well as an “Enhancement Archive” bonus disc of enhanced content that includes 90 minutes of deleted footage and rare or never-before-seen items in featurettes and galleries that cover the film’s amazing history, production teams, special effects, impact on society, promotional trailers, TV spots, and much more.

Disc Three

1982 THEATRICAL VERSION

This is the version that introduced U.S. movie-going audiences to a revolutionary film with a new and excitingly provocative vision of the near-future. It contains Deckard/Harrison Ford’s character narration and has Deckard and Rachel’s (Sean Young) “happy ending” escape scene.

1982 INTERNATIONAL VERSION

Also used on U.S. home video, laserdisc and cable releases up to 1992. This version is not rated, and contains some extended action scenes in contrast to the Theatrical Version.

1992 DIRECTOR’S CUT

The Director’s Cut omits Deckard’s voiceover narration and removes the “happy ending” finale. It adds the famously-controversial “unicorn” sequence, a vision that Deckard has which suggests that he, too, may be a replicant.

Disc Four

BONUS DISC – “Enhancement Archive”

* Featurette The Electric Dreamer: Remembering Philip K. Dick
* Featurette Sacrificial Sheep: The Novel vs. The Film
* Philip K. Dick: The Blade Runner Interviews (Audio)
* Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Cover Gallery (Images)
* The Art of Blade Runner (Image Galleries)
* Featurette Signs of the Times: Graphic Design
* Featurette Fashion Forward: Wardrobe & Styling
* Screen Tests: Rachel & Pris
* Featurette The Light That Burns: Remembering Jordan Cronenweth
* Unit Photography Gallery
* Deleted & Alternate Scenes
* 1982 Promotional Featurettes
* Trailers & TV Spots
* Featurette Promoting Dystopia: Rendering the Poster Art
* Marketing & Merchandise Gallery (Images)
* Featurette Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard
* Featurette Nexus Generation: Fans & Filmmakers

BLADE RUNNER: ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION (5-DISC)

The 5-disc Ultimate Collector’s Edition includes everything from the previously described

4-Disc Edition, plus the ultra-rare, near-legendary WORKPRINT version of the film, newly remastered. The Ultimate Collector’s Edition will be presented in a unique 5-disc digi-package with handle which is a stylish version of Rick Deckard’s own briefcase, in addition each briefcase will be individually numbered and in limited supply. Included is a lenticular motion film clip from the original feature, miniature origami unicorn figurine, miniature replica spinner car, collector’s photographs as well as a signed personal letter from Sir Ridley Scott.

Disc Five

WORKPRINT VERSION

This rare version of the film is considered by some to be the most radically different of all the Blade Runner cuts. It includes an altered opening scene, no Deckard narration until the final scenes, no “unicorn” sequence, no Deckard/Rachel “happy ending,” altered lines between Batty (Rutger Hauer) and his creator Tyrell (Joe Turkell), alternate music and much more.

Also includes:

• Commentary by Paul M. Sammon, author of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner
• Featurette All Our Variant Futures: From Workprint to Final Cut