Runaway at 40: Is it an underrated sci-fi classic or a low-rent Blade Runner?

Story by Blair Marnell

Image from Digital Trends

scrn logline

Does the forgotten 80s sci-fi thriller 'Runaway' deserve a second look or is it just a low-budget 'Blade Runner' knockoff?

beat sheet

Originally, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg wanted Tom Selleck, not Harrison Ford, to play the lead in 'Runaway' - a surprising bit of casting trivia that could have dramatically changed the film's trajectory
While 'Blade Runner' is now regarded as a sci-fi classic, 'Runaway' has been largely overlooked, making it ripe for rediscovery by audiences seeking an underrated gem from the era of big-budget blockbusters

call sheet

Harrison Ford, Tom Selleck, Blade Runner, Runaway