LOS ANGELES: Ridley Scott has signed on to direct a sequel to his 1982 science fiction/film noir classic Blade Runner. According to reports emanating from Hollywood, the star director signed with Alcon Entertainment to direct the follow-up film. It is not yet clear if this film plans to be a prequel or a sequel yet, but Harrison Ford is reportedly not going to be part of the project. The original Blade Runner, starring Ford along with Daryl Hannah, Rutger Hauer, Brion James, Edward James Olmos and a slew of others, was set in a futuristic Los Angeles where a massive corporation has perfected bioengineered android dubbed Replicants, who have superhuman abilities but short lifespans. No writer has yet been announced for the new project. Alcon Entertainment producer Andrew Kosgrove expects that the earliest that the new movie could start filming would be sometime in 2013. Yet another film for moviegoers to look forward to in the near near future. BM