NEED TO KNOW
Blade Runner 2099, starring Hunter Schafer and Michelle Yeoh, is set in a futuristic world where the existence of robots challenges what it means to be human
During the series panel at the San Diego Comic-Con, Schafer shared she’s “definitely nicer to robots now”
Blade Runner 2099 premieres Nov. 25 on Prime Video
Thanks to Blade Runner 2099, Hunter Schafer sees robots in a new light.
The science-fiction seriesis set in a futuristic Los Angeles and follows Olwen (Michelle Yeoh), a veteran Blade Runner on the verge of death and the mysterious recruit she partners with, Cora (Schafer). The two set out to “investigate a widening conspiracy that stretches back to the city’s darkest original sins,” according to an official press release.
Blade Runner 2099 explores what it means “to be human in a world where humanity is no longer relevant,” said showrunner Silka Luisa in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer in ‘Blade Runner 2099’Credit: Clay Enos/Prime Video
During the series’ panel at the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 24, Schafer, 27, opened up about how playing Cora, a human on a journey alongside a replicant, taught her about humanity and empathy.
“The franchise as a whole works as a beautiful meditation on [how] empathy can be both a strength and a weakness at different times. Context is everything,” she said. “But I will say, after working on this project, if I wasn’t already, I’m definitely nicer to robots now.”
Hunter Schafer in ‘Blade Runner 2099’Credit: Clay Enos/Prime Video
Yeoh, 63, chimed in to say that the series is a lesson on love and kindness being the center point for humanity.
“As humans, that is what we are trying to understand and ensure continues,” the Wicked actress said. “This is something we should all have and treat as a gift, not just toward other people, but mainly toward ourselves.”
“What really attracted me — being older — was that she knows very clearly what she is and how many days she has left. She is very single-mindedly focused on what she wants to do,” Yeoh continued. “Then, throughout the series, she discovers that it’s not just about being human, but what it takes to be human at the end of the day.”
Schafer and Yeoh appeared in the Comic-Con panel alongside Blade Runner 2099 showrunner Silka Luisa and executive producers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson.
Michelle Yeoh in ‘Blade Runner 2099’Credit: Amazon MGM Studios
Elsewhere in the conversation, the Euphoria actress hailed Yeoh as “one of the literal best,” and working alongside her was “nothing short of an honor.”
The two developed a close bond on set, with Yeoh even gifting Schafer a baby helmet to protect herself from injury while doing stunts on set. The Crazy Rich Asians actress revealed that her screen partner got a concussion during production, and she “had to protect my baby.”
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Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer in ‘Blade Runner 2099’Credit: Chris DELMAS / AFP via Getty
Prior to her revelation, Yeoh shared that she had never seen a more “fearless action hero” than Schafer, explaining that the star “literally dove” into her role.
“I was almost trying to hold her back, like, ‘No, no, no! Too late, okay. Is Hunter okay?’” Yeoh said, sparking laughter from the audience. “She would do the tumbles, the falls, and I’m like, ‘Girl, Hunter, where are your pads?”
Blade Runner 2099 also stars Dimitri Abold and Lewis Gribben. Recurring guest stars include Katelyn Rose Downey, Daniel Rigby, Johnny Harris, Amy Lennox, Sheila Atim, Matthew Needham, Tom Burke and Maurizio Lombardi.
The Prime Video series is set to premiere on Nov. 25.
Read the original article on People