Recreating Rachael in 'Blade Runner 2049'
Visual effects wizardry from MPC digitally de-aged "Blade Runner" star Sean Young for a pivotal scene in the sequel.
Rachael the replicant
Sci-fi sequel "Blade Runner 2049" uses cutting-edge visual effects to recreate the character of Rachael, played by Sean Young, exactly as she was in the 1982 film. Here's how they did it.
A digital model
Visual effects company MPC created a digital model head, identical to that of the young Rachael.
On the set of "Blade Runner"
Sean Young in the original film. Young returned for the sequel to be photographed and to provide reference on set while Rachael's scene was filmed.
Rachael meets co-star
The digital head was then added to real footage involving a stand-in on set with co-star Harrison Ford.
A ghostly view
In this shot, the digital model of Rachael's head lends a ghostly quality.
Scene with a stand-in
Stand-in Loren Peta took the place of original actor Sean Young for the sequel's pivotal scene.
Details matter
The digital head built by MPC had to be perfect down to the finest detail.
Skin tone and fly-away hair
Skin texture, makeup and even fly-away hairs were added to make the model look real.
Facial nuances
We're trained to subconsciously recognize the subtlest nuances in faces, so we can be thrown by even the tiniest thing that doesn't look quite right -- an effect known as "the uncanny valley."
Profile shot
The digital effects team went into incredible detail, including complex soft tissue simulations on the face and eyes.
Rick and Rachael in the original
Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard with Sean Young as Rachael in Ridley Scott's 1982 film. Young acknowledged it's "nerve-wracking" to know that she could be recreated without her involvement, but she was glad to be involved in "2049."
Stand-in with co-stars
Stand-in Loren Peta acts opposite Harrison Ford and Jared Leto.
Dots on the face for mapping
Dots on Peta's face were used to track the movements of her head, which could then be mapped with the digital version.
Speaking parts
Both Peta and Young were filmed saying Rachael's lines with a special head-tracking camera rig.
Scene with skull
The digital model begins with a skull as a base, before building outward with tissue, skin and hair.
Without hair
The MPC team also made small tweaks below the neck to "Rachael-ify" the performance.
With hair
The result is a pivotal moment in the story when we see Rachael as she was in the original film.
Digital mimickry
The model was animated to mimic Young's performance from the original film, drawing too on the performances from Young and Peta on the sequel's set.
Texture and lighting
Finally, the model was composited with the plate shot on set, with texture and lighting effects added.
Digital double
Casting the scene's atmospheric lighting over the digital double completes the effect, making this one of the most polished digital doubles yet.