Hollywood studios rarely let their A-list stars perform their own stunts. An injury could delay a film production, or worse, prevent a photogenic face from promoting a movie once it hits theatres. In this behind-the-scenes look at the VFX work on Blade Runner 2049 by Universal Production Partners, we see how Ryan Gosling’s pretty face was protected by a stunt double and a CG head.
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Producers usually try to cast stunt doubles that have a similar build and body to an actor, but these days it doesn’t really matter what their face looks like. Long gone are the days of laughing at a stunt double in a movie that looks nothing like the star they’re subbing for, as computer graphics and modern digital effects make flawless face replacements relatively easy.
And because Blade Runner 2049 was recently shortlisted for the 2018 Oscar for best visual effects, we’ve gotten another behind-the-scenes look at the film’s wonderful effects, courtesy of Rodeo FX, who helped make the year 2049 look even more dystopic.
Unfortunately the film wasn’t exactly a runaway success at the box office this summer, which means Blade Runner 2049 will have a hard time competing with other effects-laden blockbusters like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel for that visual effects Oscar.