Michelle Yeoh made a headline appearance at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, unveiling the first trailer for her upcoming sci-fi series Blade Runner 2099 alongside co-star Hunter Schafer and showrunner Silka Luisa.
Set 50 years after the events of Blade Runner 2049, the Prime Video series continues Ridley Scott’s iconic dystopian universe, this time shifting focus to a more intimate, character-driven narrative. Yeoh stars as Olwen, a replicant nearing the end of her lifespan, while Schafer plays Cora, a human fugitive posing as a Blade Runner. The two form an unlikely alliance as they track down missing replicants.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Luisa shed light on Yeoh’s character, saying, “She is hunting down a group of missing rogue replicants. She’s in the final days of her life, so she knows she has only days left to live because replicants know down to the day when they’re gonna die.”
Luisa emphasised that the television format allows the story to explore deeper emotional territory, particularly around mortality and identity.
“We have the benefit of television where you have all of the hours that you could want to explore the nuances of this very relatable and human fear of not wanting to die.
“There’s something about the idea that you’re not winding down when you die. You’re spiralling out. There’s a volatility, a danger, and a desperation to it, which I think Michelle really tapped into in her performance,” Luisa said.
The newly released trailer hints at a tense alliance between Olwen and Cora amid an escalating conflict between humans and replicants. In a key moment, Olwen tells Cora, “The old world forever fights to come back. Humans want what was taken from them. But it’s our time now.”
Blade Runner 2099 marks the franchise’s return nearly a decade after Denis Villeneuve’s 2017 sequel, which starred Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. This new chapter expands the timeline beyond both the original film and 2049, introducing new characters while retaining the philosophical core of the series.
Read more: Michelle Yeoh: Hollywood Still Struggling With Asian Representation
The cast also includes Dimitri Abold, Lewis Gribben, Katelyn Rose Downey, Daniel Rigby, Johnny Harris, Amy Lennox, Sheila Atim and Matthew Needham.
Production took place primarily in Prague at Barrandov Studios, with additional filming in Barcelona. The series is led by showrunner Silka Luisa, known for Shining Girls, with Ridley Scott serving as executive producer alongside David W. Zucker and Clayton Krueger. Jonathan van Tulleken, known for Shōgun and Dope Thief, directs the first two episodes.
Blade Runner 2099 is set to premiere on Prime Video on Nov 25.
