Filming for the live-action Blade Runner series will no longer be shooting in Northern Ireland.
Blade Runner 2099 was scheduled to begin filming in Belfast, however, following a series of delays due to the ongoing actors strike, the BBC has now reported that production will no longer go-ahead in the city.
"We are conscious that these difficult decisions do happen in the screen industry, particularly with the most expensive projects which carry the greatest expectations," Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen said in a statement.
Related: Harrison Ford's Blade Runner gets new 4K boxset
He continued: "This obviously leaves a gap in Northern Ireland's production schedule and Northern Ireland Screen will do everything it can to plug that gap as quickly as possible, mindful that many freelance crew and supply chain companies were relying on this project for work."
The BBC added that NI Screen had awarded £4.1m for the project, with the money now set to be returned. It is also understood that just over £1.5m had been spent on preparations for filming in Belfast.
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Last year it was confirmed that Amazon Studios had given the go-ahead for a 10-part series, which would see Ridley Scott return to the franchise.
Related: Ridley Scott regrets directing Alien: Covenant over Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2099 is set to be a continuation of the two films. Harrison Ford starred in the 1982 original as Rick Deckard, who was tasked with tracking down and "retiring" human-like robots called replicants.
Ford later reprised his role for Denis Villeneuve's 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 alongside Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto and Robin Wright.
The franchise also saw the release of an animated spin-off series titled Blade Runner: Black Lotus in 2021, which takes place in-between the events of the two films.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Brenna Cooper is a freelance journalist, who currently specialises in entertainment reporting. She joined Digital Spy in 2022, writing TV and movies stories for the site. After graduating with an NCTJ accredited Journalism Masters from the University of Sheffield in 2020 she has since embarked on a freelance career.
Brenna previously produced lifestyle content for Checklists.co.uk and has a specific interest in music, reviewing live acts and interviewing bands such as Confidence Man and Amyl and the Sniffers.
