Ford confirmed, Scott not directing Blade Runner

Harrison Ford in Bladerunner.

British filmmaker Ridley Scott has said in interview that he would not be directing the sequel to his classic Blade Runner, though he will be involved as a producer.

In an interview with the show business daily Variety, he said the script is to be penned by Hampton Fancher - a co-writer of the original film - and Michael Green.

Shooting is to begin next year.

"We talked at length about what it could be and came up with a pretty strong three-act storyline and it all makes sense in terms of how it relates to the first one," Scott explained, adding that Harrison Ford would again be cast as Detective Rick Deckhard.

"Harrison is very much part of this one but really it's about finding him; he comes in the third act," said the celebrated director.

So far, the details of the project remain unknown. However it has been learned that the story takes place several decades after the events that are portrayed in the original Blade Runner, a sci-fi classic released in 1982.

The original film portrays a futuristic Los Angeles in the year 2019 with society using a group of biorobotic androids called "replicants" to undertake dangerous tasks.

The replicants rebel against their manufacturers at a space colony, leading to a battle between creator and the created.

In the film, Deckhard is assigned to hunt down the replicants who have escaped from the colony and are hiding in Los Angeles.

Scott, who is set to release Exodus: Gods And Kings in December, has just begun shooting a science fiction film "The Martian," with Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain in the lead roles.

- AAP