Harrison Ford will be reprising his role as replicant hunter Rick Deckard in a sequel to Blade Runner, more than 31 years after the film first premiered.

Alcon Entertainment announced 72-year-old Ford's role today.

British director Ridley Scott, who was behind the camera for the 1982 dystopian neo-noir movie, adapted from the Philip K Dick novel Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep, will serve as an executive producer on the sequel. A director has not yet been confirmed.

Production on the film will begin next summer.

Hampton Francher, who co-wrote the original, and Michael Green, have written a script based on an idea from Francher and Scott.

The story will take place several decades after the events at the conclusion of the 1982 film.