Remaining calm under pressure is a job requirement for any film director—particularly one at the helm of a highly anticipated blockbuster with a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars—but Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve is a regular Zen master. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Villeneuve spouts your typical studio-approved lines about how much fun it was on the set and what an honor and challenge it is to take over Ridley Scott’s vision for the franchise. ”He was not there physically, but I felt his presence all the time, because I was dealing with his universe all the time,” Villeneuve said. “So in a way he wasn’t there, but he was there a lot at the same time.”
Then Villeneuve, who presumably looked well-rested and well-hydrated despite all odds, gave a more specific insight into the atmosphere on the set: That he and Ryan Gosling have anticipated your hot takes, and they know that, even if fans like the movie, they’re probably going to pick it to pieces. And honestly, they’re beyond caring about all that. “Ryan Gosling and I made peace with the idea that the chances of success were very narrow,” he said. “I came on board because the script was very strong. But no matter what you do, no matter how good what you’re doing is, the film will always be compared to the first, which is a masterpiece. So I made peace with that. And when you make peace with that, you are free.”
So come, internet, and cleanse yourselves with the purifying fire of not giving a shit. Cleanse yourselves, and be free.