Jóhann Jóhannsson – Los Angeles, 2019 © 1997 Nicklas Ingels

Why Jóhann Jóhannsson is not longer making the BR2049 Soundtrack

As you already might know. Jóhann Jóhannsson, composer and long time collaborator with Denis Villeneuve is no longer attached and doing the soundtrack to Blade Runner 2049. The reason to why this is has never been answered until now.
The website Al Arabiya let’s us know that alot of things, one is that David Bowie was the original choice to have the role of Niander Wallace (now done by Jared Leto) but also the reason to why Jóhann Jóhannsson is not doing the soundtrack for Blade Runner 2049. The score is instead created by Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, Interstellar, Inception) and Benjamin Wallfisch (It, Annabelle Creation, Hidden Figures) and the reason is somewhat related to the result not sounding more like Vangelis.

“The thing I will say is that making movies is a laboratory. It’s an artistic process. You cannot plan things. Jóhann Jóhannsson is one of my favorite composers alive today. He’s a very strong artist.

“But the movie needed something different, and I needed to go back to something closer to Vangelis. Johan and I decided that I will need to go in another direction—that’s what I will say. I hope I have the chance to work with him again because I think he’s really a fantastic composer.”

Blade Runner sequel is "Blade Runner 2049" (and Oculus will get exclusive VR content)

Photo by Stephen Vaughan - © 2016 - Warner Bros. — Blade Runner 2049 People: Harrison Ford, Ridley Scott, Ryan Gosling, Denis Villeneuve Photo by Stephen Vaughan – © 2016 – Warner Bros.

Warner Brothers has also released a set photo with Ridley Scott, Denis Villeneueve, Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford and if you look closely you’ll find two Blasters on the table

The title for the upcoming Blade Runner sequel will be “Blade Runner 2049”. From the title we get a hint that the movie will be taking place 30 years after the original Blade Runner. “Blade Runner 2049” is set to be released on October 6, 2017 and in the cast you’ll find Jared Leto (Suicide Squad), Ana De Armas (War Dogs), Ryan Gosling (Drive), Robin Wright (Forrest Gump), Dave Bautista (Guardians Of The Galaxy), Lennie James (The Walking Dead) and Harrison Ford whom once again will be playing Rick Deckard. Denis Villeneuve (Sicarrio) will be directing and the Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson will create the soundtrack to the movie
Neither IMDB or Alcon Entertainment has been updated with the the new title “Blade Runner 2049” (however, the official Facebook page has been updated)

Alcon Entertainment is joining with virtual reality company Oculus to create content and distribute content around the October, 2017 release of Blade Runner 2049, through a new company division called Alcon Interactive. The VR experiences will be exclusively distributed on the Oculus platform

Jared Leto concludes the Blade Runner sequel casting + Jóhann Jóhannsson will create the music

So, Jared Leto (Suicide Squad) is the final piece in the casting of the Blade Runner sequel according to Alcon Entertainment

Academy Award winner Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) is set to join the previously announced cast of Alcon Entertainment’s BLADE RUNNER sequel which includes Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Carla Juri, Mackenzie Davis, Barkhad Abdi, David Dastmalchian, Hiam Abbass, Lennie James and Dave Bautista, it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEO’s Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson.
Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Sicarrio, Prisoners) is directing the film to be released October 6, 2017. The film will be released by Warner Bros. in North America and Sony Pictures Releasing International will distribute in all media for all overseas territories.
The sequel is set several decades after the 1982 original, with Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role as Rick Deckard. The film is written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and succeeds the initial story by Fancher and David Peoples based on Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Story details are not being revealed.
States Johnson and Kosove, “We are thrilled that Jared has agreed to play a key role in the BLADE RUNNER sequel. He is a phenomenal actor, and we know he will create a truly memorable, never before seen character.”
If you want to read more on this and straight from the official source, head over to Alcon Enterteinment

Jóhann Jóhannsson, an Icelandic composer and a long time co-worker and creator of the music in many of Denis Villeneuve’s movies will create the music in the Blade Runner sequel. More information and a chance to listen to some of his work can be found on Pitchfork