Blade Runner 2099 has enlisted a new director for its first two episodes, with Shōgun alum Jonathan van Tulleken replacing Jeremy Podeswa at the helm.
As reported by Deadline, Podeswa had to step away from Prime Video's live-action Blade Runner 2099 series due to scheduling conflicts in the aftermath of the dual work stoppage of writers and actors that halted most productions last year. Tulleken has now signed on to direct and executive produce the first two episodes.
Tulleken most recently directed and executive produced the opening episodes of FX's adaptation of Shōgun, which will offer a new interpretation of James Clavell's classic 1975 novel when it debuts on February 27. His other credits include the Apple TV+ series The Changeling and Prime Video's sci-fi sitcom Upload.
Filming on Blade Runner 2099 is scheduled to commence this April in Prague after production plans shifted from Belfast due to the strikes. There are currently no details about who is starring in the series, but with less than two months to go until cameras start rolling, casting announcements shouldn't be far off.
Blade Runner 2099 will take place 50 years after the recent sequel, Blade Runner 2049, with showrunner Silka Luisa at the helm. Blade Runner director Ridley Scott and Blade Runner 2049 writer Michael Green will serve as executive producers alongside Tom Spezialy, who was part of the writers' room, and several others.
The limited series has been on the cards for a while now, with Ridley Scott confirming in 2021 that they had already come up with a full plot outline for the show. Amazon officially picked up Blade Runner 2099 in September 2022, with the company's Head of Global Television promising that the story would "uphold the intellect, themes, and spirit of its film predecessors [1982's Blade Runner and 2017's Blade Runner 2049]."
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter @AdeleAnkers.
