Known for committing to his roles through method acting, Blade Runner 2049 star Jared Leto went to great lengths to accurately portray the visually-impaired android manufacturer named Niander Wallace. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal magazine, director Denis Villeneuve revealed that Leto wore specially designed contact lenses that blinded the actor.
Describing some of Leto’s acting choices as “insane,” Villeneuve commented on his experience working with the actor:
“We all heard stories about Jared, how he transforms into the characters. But even this didn’t prepare me for what was to come.”
Nevertheless, Villeneuve praised Leto’s work on the film:
“He really created something. Every time Jared came on set, it was a boost of energy, tension and excitement.”
Leto’s contact lenses required to actor be guided around set and Villeneuve recalled how Leto even wore them for camera test before production officially began:
“He could not see at all. He was walking with an assistant, very slowly. It was like seeing Jesus walking into a temple. Everybody became super silent, and there was a kind of sacred moment. Everyone was in awe. It was so beautiful and powerful — I was moved to tears.”
Though Leto tried to live as a blind person, the actor insists his method acting was not nearly as intense as with previous roles:
“I didn’t dive as deep down the rabbit hole as maybe I’ve done before. I’m crazy, but I’m not insane.”
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Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former LAPD blade runner who has been missing for thirty years.
Blade Runner 2049 stars Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, Jared Leto and Barkhad Abdi. Th efilm will be released in theaters on October 6th, 2017.
Source: The Wall Street Journal (via Entertainment Tonight)
