20 Things You Didn't Know About Blade Runner
19. Ridley Scott Originally Turned The Film Down
After Hampton Fancher's screenplay was optioned, Ridley Scott was approached to direct Blade Runner. However, he initially declined, as he was about to start work on an adaptation Frank Herbert's Dune, which eventually became the notorious David Lynch flop of 1984.
Early on in Dune's development, Scott's older brother Frank died very suddenly. Struggling with his grief, and with very little progress happening on Dune's production, he agreed to direct Blade Runner instead. He believed the faster pace of the production would keep him busy, and would help him take his mind off Frank's death. Scott's recent bereavement is believed to have heavily influenced the film's gloomy tone and visual style.