Blade Runner 2049 First Look Features Music Of Vangelis

Warner Bros. Pictures has released the first preview of Blade Runner 2049 – the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci fi classic – and it features the look and iconic Vangelis synth theme of the original. 

The sequel is being produced by Scott and directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival). Harrison Ford is reprising his role and screenwriter Hampton Fancher is back, too.

Vangelis is not returning to score the Blade Runner sequel. Instead, it will be scored by Jóhann Jóhannsson, who’s scored other Villeneuve films. Jóhannsson describes his music as a ‘blend of electronics and classical orchestration, drawing on minimalism and drone music, as well as electronic and classical forms”. It sounds like there may be some echoes of the original score showing up, though.

Here’s the synopsis of Blade Runner 2049:

Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for 30 years.

31 thoughts on “Blade Runner 2049 First Look Features Music Of Vangelis

  1. will there be narration?????

    this was a big debate about the original where it was put in at last minute because the studio wanted it and why it is not in director’s cut.

    I like that it was in there because it was more like an old film nor detective story than sci-fi fantasy

    1. This debate is easy to end. Ridley Scott calls BS on the studio intervention quite specifically in his audio commentary on the Blu-Ray. There was a creative debate in himself and amongst his team, but it had nothing to do with the studio.

      His “Final Cut” doesn’t have the narration, by the way. That’s the commentary I’m talking about.

  2. I agree, Narration is often a cheap trick storytelling wise. However in that cut of Blade Runner I think it worked well. It added something that just seemed right.

    1. it’s a backstory thing , to give information so the viewer understands what is going on. (often a problem with some parody films in which you would have to seen the original movie the joke is based on)
      But is you look at those old detective stories (sam spade type) the narration sort adds to the charm (or to the joke as with police squad)
      Ans with the original blade runner it made it a futuristic detective story, without it it becomes more of a fantasy sci-fi story (which there are a boatload)
      I guess it depends of what you like

      What would be cool if they made 2 versions, one with and one without

  3. For me, Vangelis’ score IS Blade Runner. Watching a Blade Runner film without a Vangelis Score would be like watching a Star Wars (Episode) Film without a John Williams score…even though those days are headed D:

    Here’s hoping Jóhannsson has tipped his hat to the original score. As for the look of the film … it’s effing gorgeous. It looks like Ridley’s sensibilities and vision have been re-imagined tastefully.

    1. I don’t have a great ear and I noticed the same thing. And I immediately thought: this is a good thing! 30 years have passed in the story, lets put some new sounds in there.

  4. Based on this early and short sample I have to say that this
    is very impressive sound and almost no booms and braaams for a change in a hollywood trailer is
    so welcome. Blending of sound fx and music is
    as superb as in the original. And even the smallest of Vangelis’ musical motifs or iconic phrases
    bears tremendous power. I hope the final score retains many such references to the original score.

  5. You guys do realize that the composer of a film’s soundtrack is almost never the one who composes the teasers/trailers? What you’re hearing is most assuredly not Johannsson’s music.

  6. After seeing Johann live in October, and hearing his score for Arrival, I have complete confidence that he’ll do a great job with Bladerunner. I’m really looking forward to it!

  7. RA Exchange did a good interview with Jóhann Jóhannsson. He talks about scoring this and other projects… good listen, and makes me excited for this sequel.

  8. Sounds okay, but musically or melodically it’s pretty much zero. It might be good for synth sound fanboys, but the the original Vangelis soundtrack also had melody and not just “sounds”.
    But I guess that’s how it is today. I don’t even know when I last heard a good melody.

    1. It is more than zero just because it has a couple of fragments from the opening titles
      and part of the opening fanfare from the original score. However if
      you worry that Johansson is nowhere nearly as strong in melodic/harmonic composition,
      or as versatile as Vangelis, then I am with you. Nevertheless he may be able to pull it off mostly on timbres,
      textures and minimalist melody/harmony IF the movie is contemplative/mysterious enough and IF he rehashes some of the’original bladerunner score highlights. Vangelis kind of did the same by rehashing
      the end titles piece and memories of green from earlier works of his.

      I respectfully disagree about the total lack of melody in movies although it is a worrisome trend.
      As just one example think of C. Burwell’s Mr Holmes score, or the blend of traditional score and synth/sound fx in Steve Price’s Gravity soundtrack.

  9. They should have asked clint mansell…. the real deal…. listen to “lived in splendour by pop will eat itself… see!?

  10. I’ve watched both trailers and the 4min 35th anniversary footage released today and I can honestly say that the music revealed thus far is not a patch on the original. Very disappointing. Generic production technique, terrible cheap synths (lacking all that CS-80 warmth), banging drums. No subtlety, depth, variation. The original score was groundbreaking. This sounds like countless sci-fi movies of the past decade. This sequel is looking fantastic but it sounds dreadfully contemporary.

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