Ridley Scott confirms Alien and Blade Runner TV series are in development

Filmmaker Ridley Scott recently confirmed that the development of the Alien and Blade Runner TV series adaptations is in full swing, with the plots and pilots written currently.

Scott, whose latest project is The House of Gucci, told BBC that Blade Runner will be a ten-episode series. “We [have already] written the pilot for Blade Runner and the bible. So, we’re already presenting Blade Runner as a TV show, the first 10 hours,” he said.

Scott added that the Alien show will follow a similar format, and have a “bible” of what will take place in the first 8-10 hours.

IGN writes that a Blade Runner series was rumoured in February this year, but there was no word on the project until now.

The series will in all likelihood have a streaming premiere, though no further details are known. IGN notes that it is unknown if this project will affect Dennis Villenvue’s hope to make another Blade Runner film.

He had previously said that he wanted to revisit the universe and explore it in his own, unique way. Villenvue explained he envisioned his rendition to be disconnected from the two films that already exist: “A detective noir story set in the future… I wake up sometimes in the night dreaming about it.”

Meanwhile, the Alien TV series was announced earlier this year and will be set at US network FX. Scott, however, had noted that the series will not be on par with the original film.

Besides House of Gucci, Scott's other upcoming works include The Last Duel, a historical drama starring Adam Driver, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Jodie Comer. He is also developing a Napolean Bonaparte film Kitbag led by Joaquin Phoenix as well as a sequel to Gladiator.