The Next Entry In Ridley Scott's Original Futuristic Cyberpunk Thriller Is Set To Stream This Month

The end of this year will mark the debut of new entries in two of the biggest sci-fi franchises in pop culture history. On December 18, 2026, Dune: Part Three will land in theaters internationally, completing an epic trilogy that director Denis Villeneuve began more than 5 years ago with the release of Dune: Part One. Ironically, another sci-fi franchise that Villeneuve once had a hand in will return later this month: Blade Runner. The original Blade Runner was released in 1982. It is a neo-noir film in a futuristic cyberpunk world that follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a police officer known as Blade Runner, who is tasked with hunting down and retrieving replicants (bio-engineered humans). The famous director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator) brought this sci-fi dystopian world through the inspiration of the basis of the film: the 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.

In 2017, 35 years later, a sequel finally emerged. Villeneuve directed Blade Runner 2049, which followed K (Ryan Gosling), a replicant who hunts and eliminates rouge replicants. Deckard also made a return in this film. The film was praised for its cinematography and striking imagery. The story pushed the philosophical boundaries first established by the original. Now, a new limited series with Ridley Scott as executive producer is available to stream later this month, and it promises to continue the lore and story that the previous two films built.

Simultaneous current: 3
# of profiles: 6
Originals: Yes
Live TV: Limited (some add-on channels offer live TV)

Enter Blade Runner 2099

This limited series will act as a further sequel in the franchise

Fans may remember that the original Blade Runner took place in 2019. The sequel, Blade Runner 2049, takes place 30 years later in 2049, the name of the film. So of course Blade Runner 2099 takes place 50 years later in 2099. Now replicants have revolted against humanity, and a power struggle has ensued. Humans are now second-class citizens, while replicants hold the keys to the power dynamics in the city (Los Angeles). The series follows Olwen (Michelle Yeoh), an aging replicant, and Cora (Hunter Schafer), a human refugee who pretends to be a blade runner in order to survive. The two protagonists form an unlikely partnership to track down a replicant who has a massive secret. Meanwhile, Olwen is nearing the end of her designated lifespan as a replicant, upping the ante as she races against the clock to achieve her goals.

This is the first television series in the Blade Runner franchise. Therefore, it is impossible to know whether the series will resonate with fans of the two films. However, the key factor to note on this series is that the original visionary behind the 1982 film, Ridley Scott, sits in the executive producer’s chair. In terms of cohesion and vision, there isn’t much better insurance for a solid new outing in the franchise than that.

Where and when can you watch Blade Runner 2099?

Mark your calendar

Blade Runner 2049 is scheduled to be released on Amazon Prime Video on November 25, 2026. Many Amazon Prime Video exclusive series started with one or two episodes, which were then followed by a weekly episode release for the rest of the season. However, that’s not the case with Blade Runner 2099. The entire eight-episode arc drops simultaneously on Prime Video. So, fans don’t have to wait two months to finish the series. It will be bingeable from day one.

Blade Runner was always less about the futuristic world in which the story is set and more about the metaphysical perception of identity and humanity. The series has often asked thought-provoking questions when it comes to the idea of sentience in artificial life and its value. It will be interesting to see how the series continues these themes with a new generation of characters in a world where replicants now have the upper hand. On November 25, fans can see for themselves if Blade Runner 2099 captures the magic of the films that preceded it. In the meantime, I think there are many reasons to be optimistic and excited about this new Blade Runner story.