Los Angeles, CA: Hunter Schafer, known for her role in the hit HBO series “Euphoria,” has been chosen to play a lead character in Prime Video’s upcoming series “Blade Runner 2099.” This casting announcement comes as a new addition to the ensemble led by Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, with Schafer’s role in the series yet to be disclosed.
The limited series “Blade Runner 2099” is under the direction of showrunner Silka Luisa and executive producer Ridley Scott, the original director of “Blade Runner.” Jonathan van Tulleken is set to direct the first two episodes of the series.
Schafer, a former model turned actress, gained recognition for her portrayal of transgender high schooler Jules Vaughn in “Euphoria.” Apart from her work on the HBO series, Schafer has appeared in various film projects, including “The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” and the upcoming horror movie “Cuckoo.”
Known for her activism, Schafer has been actively involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy and was notably arrested in New York City earlier this year for protesting alongside a group calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The casting of Schafer in “Blade Runner 2099” follows the recent delay of “Euphoria” season 3, as creator Sam Levinson reworks the scripts for the upcoming season.
In addition to Luisa and Scott, the executive producers for “Blade Runner 2099” include a lineup of industry veterans. The series marks the first live-action installment in the “Blade Runner” franchise since the release of “Blade Runner 2049” in 2017, although a premiere date for the new series has not been revealed.
As fans eagerly anticipate Schafer’s role in the futuristic world of “Blade Runner 2099,” the series promises to deliver a compelling narrative under the creative vision of its talented team of filmmakers and performers.