Blade Runner Black Lotus Season 2: Not Returning? Release Date & Latest Updates

Are you excited about Blade Runner Black Lotus Season 2 as well? The 2021 stats of the manga industry were no shock after the pandemic hit the world. But what was more shocking was the fact that the western anime industry was slowly overtaking this industry. Without the numbers, the success of Blade Runner Black Lotus was enough to tell us that fans are drifting towards news and experimental stories. Season 1 ended its journey on February 6, 2022. Now, the return of the sequel is under question once again. So, let’s analyze everything that is going on around the same.

Blade Runner Black Lotus is a spin-off story in itself. It is set in the timeline between the events of Black Out 2022 and 2036 Nexus Dawn. Thus, the scope of following the same storyline is limited in the timeline. So, is there hope for a return? Can fans expect to see the sequel to Elle’s story anytime soon? Let us find out.

Blade Runner Black Lotus Season 2: Renewed or Not?

As of the last update, Blade Runner Black Lotus Season 2 has not been renewed. Neither Adult Swim nor any company in association with the project has said a word about the return of the show. In fact, even the final episode did not tease any hope for the return. Adding to this is the fact that the first season got a hefty response. So, there might be a lot of work that the makers might have to do before releasing a new season.

Also Read: Blade Runner Black Lotus Review [Spoiler-Free] | The Anime Daily

Will It Come Back?

As mentioned above, there is a lot of work that the makers might have to do before bringing back the second season. From the reception to the critical numbers, everything is running on a low bar at the moment. Further, Blade Runner is an old franchise on its own. This amounts to the fact that the original fans of the story have gone older. So, serving them with an anime reboot is seemingly not a good idea. The MyAnimeList score of the anime is as low as 5.78 stars.

What is more shocking is the fact that only 1500 users were on-board with this score. The users of IMDb are even lower than this. It is apparent that the audience rooting for the show is considerably low. Plus, the story also failed to give any significant bump to the original plot. Even though the chances are very low, it is possible that Solo Digital Arts will move forward with a second season in hopes of further improvement.

Is There Any Source Material?

Blade Runner is an original story that is set in the events between Black Out 2022 and 2036 Nexus Dawn. It is a bridge between the first movie and the sequel, Blade Runner 2049 movie. The story is generated by directors Shinji Aramaki and Kenji Kamiyama, who derive the rough story from novels and comics. This eliminates the fact that there is no restraint of source material in the storyline. The makers can extend the story for as long as they want to. However, the biggest factor that concerns the fans here is the placing of this story.

Elle is the replicant protagonist who tries to find the truths behind her conversion and the man who sets her up on the mission. Since the placing of the story is in-between the pilot and the sequel, the number of stories is limited. However, this is not that big of a problem. If fans love the arc of Elle, J, and Niander, the makers can overlook the timelines. The story can continue on its own and draw a parallel universe to Blade Runner. Later on, when the Blade Runner Franchise decides to continue, Elle and the rest of the characters can join the originals.

Spin-Offs & Originals

Black Lotus is a spin-off story on its own. The story begins right after where it left in Black Out 2022 storyline. Thus, the chances of getting more spin-offs are quite low. However, continuing a spin-off has more chances than starting a separate timeline. As the Black Lotus storyline continues, it is apparent that it will end up merging into the Blade Runner original universe. So, a second season can come in between the two movies.

However, after that, there is a lesser chance that Blade Runner Black Lotus could get a third season. Even if that thin possibility happens in the future, fans can expect that it will surpass the original plot from 2049. Thus, Elle and J will come along in a separate story. Later on, Blade Runner can release the third movie, possibly inviting the Black Lotus characters along for a cameo or even as side characters.

Plot Details: What To Expect Next?

The final episode, ‘Time To Die,’ ends the story on a stranded note. Elle’s final confrontation with Niander Jr. gave away that the two of them were truly in love. However, the nemesis is dead, and Elle has all her memories back. This is the point where the 2036 Nexus Dawn begins. So now, either the story can get directly to the Black Out events, or it can follow Elle to her next set of missions. At the moment, it is not clear which route the story will take.

If it surpasses the original storyline, there are chances that fans can see what happened after the 2049 movie. This will not only serve as the sequel to the anime but also as a comeback to the original movie series. Plus, many fans had believed that Black Lotus was a much sequel than Nexus. Thus, it would be a far better option to continue that banner instead of that. It will be interesting to see what storyline Blade Runner Black Lotus Season 2 will pick up next.

Also Read: 15 Worst Anime Of 2021 That Failed To Impress The Fans!

Blade Runner Black Lotus Season 2: Release Date

At the time of writing, there is next to no news about Blade Runner’s comeback. And judging by the reception and feedback over the first season, it looks like the makers will take their due time before bringing back the season. Plus, they have to put in a lot of effort before bringing back a sequel. This time, the story structure and animation need more spark and impact before the launch. So, it can be said that Blade Runner Black Lotus Season 2 is not coming back anytime soon.

The fans looking for it might have to wait for two years at the least to get a second season. So, an early 2024 slate seems appropriate for a return, that too after much demand. This section will be updated with all the relevant information. So, keep an eye on this space for more updates.

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