Ashley Lee / The Hollywood Reporter
Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi is headed to the future for Blade Runner 2049 — and he’s revealing a few details about his character.
“He’s a scientist,” the actor tells Heat Vision of his role in the film, a sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 classic, “and he’s totally deformed.”
Footage from director Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 stunned audiences last month at CinemaCon, with the presentation helping assure viewers the film was truly expanding on Scott’s vision. The sequel stars Ryan Gosling as Officer Q and original star Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, as well as Jared Leto, Robin Wright and Ana de Armas. It takes place decades after the events in Blade Runner, with Q tracking down Deckard for a mysterious purpose.
For Abdi, who shot scenes with Gosling, the weight of living up to the original was on his mind. “It’s not pressure, it’s a blessing,” he says.
“But for me, I do everything that I do to the full extent like it’s the last one. I feel an obligation to [surpass] Captain Phillips — that’s my goal,” adds the actor, who has since also co-starred in Eye in the Sky opposite Helen Mirren, and the upcoming Dabka with Evan Peters. “So every time I have an opportunity, I like to do what I can, because I’m all about this [career].”
Blade Runner 2049 is set to open Oct. 6. Warner Bros. is distributing the film domestically, and Sony is Alcon Entertainment’s worldwide partner on the film and is distributing it internationally.