How marketing brought Blade Runner 2049 out of retirement after 35 years
Warner Bros (and Sony Pictures in the UK) did a lot to ensure the $350m development of Blade Runner 2049 – the sequel to coveted Ridley Scott sci-fi movie Blade Runner – launched a new franchise capable of partaking in financial fisticuffs with Disney's Star Wars.
Some Blade Runner 2049 marketing executions
While the original movie nailed dystopian aesthetic with practical effects on a scale that is rarely emulated today, it most pertinently was a fully imagined, world, saturated with advertising.
Of course, many of the brands integrated with the original never lasted the test of time, bringing forth rumours of a Blade Rumour curse. Atari's marketshare has diminished in the years since although it makes a reappearance, Koss Corporation shortly went bust after release, RCA Corp and Bell Telephone are no more, and Pan Am is kaput. Coca-Cola continues to reign supreme and returns to the big screen with Atari, Sony, Johnnie Walker.
Thus, it was only wise that brands would play a sizable part in the marketing of its return to the big screen three decades on.
Below are some of the more interesting marketing activations around the return, which to date, has had a lackluster opening weekend but could fair better on the back of a largely positive critical reception.
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker, has taken a leaf out of Old Forester's playbook with Kingsman, with the launch of a new futuristic brew called Black Label, developed in collaboration with visionary Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve and Johnnie Walker master blender Jim Beveridge.
We’re getting into character with these cocktails inspired by #BladeRunner2049, in theaters today. pic.twitter.com/pzZJAABrxR
— Johnnie Walker (@JohnnieWalkerUS) October 6, 2017
We’re stepping into the future with “Quest”—a cocktail created by @bostonmixdrink inspired by #BladeRunner2049. pic.twitter.com/R7w5GKNmxf
— Johnnie Walker (@JohnnieWalkerUS) October 5, 2017
Further to this, a digital hub shows how to mix future cocktails name after characters from the movie. On the experiential side, there was a Johnnie Walker activation at ComicCon that saw Blade Runners chasing replicants in VR.
Atari
Classic gaming brand Atari featured in the original movie – back then it was an industry leader. Now from a much more modest base as a smaller publisher and nostalgia brand in the midst of a revival, Atari features in the movie again.
New trailer for #BladeRunner2049 features #Atari in the opening scene. Are you excited for the new movie?! https://t.co/qlIDxWHNZd pic.twitter.com/tcQE9RC1T6
— atari (@atari) May 8, 2017
The new blade runner looks excellent! Can't wait to see it but the fact that they brought the Atari logo back is like icing on the cake! pic.twitter.com/RRxG8qQZdL
— The Nintendork (@Nintendork9) October 4, 2017
Furthermore it released a line of futuristic speaker hats tying into the movie launch.
/ @atari is teaming up with #BladeRunner2049 and releasing some futuristic, wearable tech that looks dope:https://t.co/HdvFHrE6iP pic.twitter.com/EfpfSFKbwz
— WWG (@WWG) July 20, 2017
Snapchat
Blade Runner wanted to capture the attention of the millennial and chose to do it in its natural habitat. Many Snap users are probably of an age where they are learning about the original movie for the first time during this campaign.
Unlock the world of 2049 with our 3D World Lens. #BladeRunner2049 - now playing everywhere. https://t.co/Zw8qs85FTn pic.twitter.com/STSd74ZfrO
— #BladeRunner 2049 (@bladerunner) October 7, 2017
#Snapchat launches sponsored 3D World Lenses for brands, starting with @bladerunner. #socialmedia #paidmedia ▶️ https://t.co/OCvw1rmuFM pic.twitter.com/7TfOCPzYqi — Margaux Cauvin (@MargauxCauvin) September 29, 2017
Blade Runner 2049 marketing on Snapchat. pic.twitter.com/CFAVBf5wpe — Margaro F Sanchez M (@mfabiansm) October 3, 2017
Short movies There were a handful of shorts and trailers designed to fill viewers in on the extensive world of the movie – and tell how things have changed in the 35 years since the original. The first prequel is 'Blade Runner 2022: Lights Out', an anime from Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirô Watanabe. It runs at 15 minutes long.
The second is, Nowhere to Run, created by agency 3AM, directed by Luke Scott (Meet Walter) and produced by RSA Films, stars Dave Bautista. It runs at a substantial six minutes.
And the third video showcases the pantomime villain of the piece, Jared Leto's Niander Wallace. He got his own six minutes to shine in a prequel called 2036: Nexus Dawn. He forces a repeal of the act banning replicates by showing how they are fully compliant with his demands.
Social Media There was been a joint push to generate buzz on social media, utilising the film's stunning cinematography with gifs and video.
He's on a mission to discover the truth. #BladeRunner2049 pic.twitter.com/z2sjltfbNf — Sony Pictures UK (@SonyPicturesUK) October 8, 2017
What did he find? #BladeRunner2049https://t.co/IpwSKUyuvY pic.twitter.com/wDKF4FIZUN — Sony Pictures UK (@SonyPicturesUK) October 6, 2017
Step into the dystopian world of #BladeRunner2049. At Cinemas now. pic.twitter.com/ZKV3Tbl4vu — Sony Pictures UK (@SonyPicturesUK) October 5, 2017
And there has been gorgeous unofficial artwork.
Check out the breathtaking #BladeRunner2049 art from @BottleneckNYC at @NY_Comic_Con. #NYCC pic.twitter.com/R7r8hoLreK — #BladeRunner 2049 (@bladerunner) October 6, 2017
Further to this, fans of the movie could insert their likeness into the official poster.
Enter the world of 2049 with the #BladeRunner2049 Poster Creator: https://t.co/1MtQ6dyWFB pic.twitter.com/fpyQHV8p0n — #BladeRunner 2049 (@bladerunner) October 8, 2017
The movie is in theatres globally now.