Interview (Written): Michael Green

Co-writer of the movie Blade Runner 2049.

A Nerd Report interview with Michael Green whose screenwriting credits include Green Lantern, Logan, and Blade Runner 2049.

NR: The original never explains this and neither does Blade Runner 2049. Why are they called Blade Runners?

MG: Hampton was asked that earlier today. I can give you his answer speaking for him. Ridley had asked him a question about that, like how are they referred to internally? He was always looking to build out the world inside. Hampton went home and he was a big William S. Burroughs fan. There’s a short novella that’s a bit postmodernist that’s called Blade Runner as a film script, I believe. Again, I’m just paraphrasing for Hampton. He came in the next day and said, “Call them a blade runner.” They were looking for a title, a lot of debate about Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? A lot of people didn’t like that. Hampton says he did and they were kicking around other titles. I think it was Michael Deeley who said, “We’ve got it right here. It’s Blade Runner.” They all went, “Whoa” and they bought that title. They bought the title of an unrelated, title alone, but I think it’s incredibly apt. First of all, it’s very active. Someone’s running but it conjures an image of running across a knife’s edge or running with a knife in hand. Running with scissors is the best way to run.

NR: Did you and Hampton become writing partners?

MG: No, we met after everything was said and done. I got to know him by reading him. I got to know him by working with his ideas. I’d heard so much about him. After the film had wrapped, I felt remiss that I didn’t reach out to him sooner so I sent him an e-mail and just said, “Hey, I would love to meet you sometime.” This was about a year ago now. We got together and he is a lovely, warm human being. I adored him instantly and we were going to have a quick lunch and stayed there for four hours. We got to know each other a bit more since. I enjoy the hell out of him but no, I’ve never written with him. I don’t know if he’s ever written with a partner. He did what he did and after he turned in his hybrid epic poem draft, it fell into my lap. I just learned this today. He still hasn’t seen the movie or read the script. He’s looking forward to being surprised by it.

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