Thousands of Blade Runner fans let out a collective depressing sigh last week after it was reported Ridley Scott would not be directing the hugely anticipated sequel to the 1982 classic. Sure, Scott was due to act as a producer, and shooting was set to go ahead in 2015, but still, it was a blow.

Ridley ScottRidley Scott says he could direct Blade Runner 2

WELL GUESS WHAT. During press for his forthcoming Biblical epic Exodus: Gods and Kings, Scott told Yahoo! UK that in theory he could still direct the movie.

"I don't know about that yet. It's a tricky one because it's so personal," Scott said when asked who he wanted to helm the sequel. "The script is very, very good. Very good. I wouldn't know [what sort of director we'd want]. It's a hard one to track because it's such a personal piece of my work. [Blade Runner] may be one of the most personal pieces I did. I got so beaten up for it, I said I'd never try that again. But here it is. It's sitting there ready to be made."

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In fairness, the story from Variety that set off the whole "Ridley isn't directing Blade Runner 2" had no direct quotes from the filmmaker.

Chief Critic Scott Foundas - who wrote the piece - said: "When "The Martian" wraps later this winter, Scott already has a fair idea what he'll be doing next, though it likely won't be the much-anticipated "Blade Runner" sequel he developed with the original film's co-screenwriter, Hampton Fancher."

What we do know is that Harrison Ford will be back as Deckard, but only in the third act, as the script is focused on "finding" the classic character from the original. 

Blade Runner 2 is set for release sometime in late 2015 to early 2016.

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