Denis Villeneuve doesn’t want a Blade Runner 2049 extended cut

The original BLADE RUNNER is famous for having multiple cuts, from the theatrical version, to the directors cut, and even a “Final Cut.” Now that BLADE RUNNER 2049 is approaching it’s Blu-ray release the question of whether this movie will have some sort of extended cut has been on everyone’s mind. Director Denis Villeneuve has now come out to say that will not be the case, and that the version we saw in theaters is the movie he wants us all to see.

During a lengthy interview with Screen Crush, Villeneuve talked about not just a longer cut of 2049, but about extended editions in general, saying he has never seen an extended/director’s cut that was better than the original (sans BLADE RUNNER and TOUCH OF EVIL). On that note, he has no intention of doing something similar with his BLADE RUNNER:

I will say that there’s no great things that are being lost. When I cut something, it’s dead. It means it was not good enough. Even if sometimes I’m cutting my favorite shots, I still strongly think that when it’s cut on the floor of the editing room it should not go back to see the light of day again. I don’t like extended cuts. I must say, apart from Touch of Evil and Blade Runner, I have never seen a director’s cut that was better than the original. I mean, I’m not a fan at all of Apocalypse Now Redux. I thought it was a massive mistake to do Apocalypse Now Redux. It’s true that maybe sometimes the director lost control and had to do what producers – but, most of the time the movie stands by itself. It’s stronger than one individual.

The notion of an extended edition came to light when it was revealed by the movie’s editor, Joe Walker, that the first cut of the movie was about four hours long, and that he and Villeneuve toyed with the idea of releasing it in two parts. The director spoke about this, saying they did think about taking the idea to the producers, but they knew before leaving the editing room that the idea wouldn’t fly:

The thing is, it’s true that the first cut was four hours and at one point we were like, “Okay, do we go to the producer and release it in two?” But let’s say the idea of the movie being in two parts didn’t get out of the editing room. [Laughs] No, the best incarnation of the movie is what is in the theater. What was striking is that the four-hour cut was quite strong. But personally I prefer the one that is in the theater because it’s more elegant, I would say. But there are some scenes that were like [makes boosh sound]. Quite strong.

Not getting an extended cut of the movie may be a bummer to fans who like to see multiple versions of a movie, and then having the option to go back and watch the original. But in the case of BLADE RUNNER 2049, the original theatrical version is about as amazing as it gets. Even though it may be cool to see more of what Villeneuve created, what we saw was pretty stupendous and works perfectly on its own. Why risk sullying that with a “GONE WITH THE WIND edition”?

BLADE RUNNER 2049 hits Blu-ray January 16, 2018, and is on Digital now.