The electricity turns off. The thunder cracks. The run starts pelting down. The sky darkens. I knew exactly who was on the other end of the phone when it rang – no, not the SES – the one-and-only Rutger Hauer, living film legend and star of ‘’Blade Runner’’. Seems Warner’s got quite the marketing budget for the new ‘’Blade Runner : The Final Cu’t’’ DVD (on shelves December 19) and no doubt spent most of it on manipulating the weather to make our cities look a little closer to the metropolis in the film we’re discussing. Whether they do or not… it sure sets the scene.

We’re here talking about ‘’Blade Runner,’’ all these years later, did you ever envision it would become the cult hit it has become?
No, I’m not able to think that far ahead. I didn’t even think about it in my fantasies. You don’t think about that, because it never happens. I don’t think people understand how unusual this is – it won’t happen [for most films]. This is a very special occasion. And I take, not so much great pride, but great pleasure on being involved… and doing my bit in it. It’s exciting. They ask ‘How can I talk about a film that’s 25 years old?’ I say it’s ‘very easy, very easy’. This is one of the babies. This is one of the most unique.

Gorgeous looking DVD, too. It really scrubs up well. You’d think it was made last week it looks that good. Did you notice the changes in this new ‘Final Cut’ compared to the original cut, released in 1982?
No, not quite. I’m just like any other audience [member], when I sit there I just follow the storyline. I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. Though I did notice that it moves smoother and it took me a little more deeper, and there were more depth to the characters also… I don’t know how they did that, but it just works all around.

Do you prefer people updating their original films, like Ridley has with ‘’Blade Runner’’, rather than someone simply remaking them?
That’s an interesting question. I do favour all the tricks in the book. It’s getting weird though - we’re almost getting to a place where we can change an [old] film so much that it almost looks like another movie; like its being remade.

I just think that with all the remakes right now I’m surprised they haven’t remade ‘’Blade Runner’’. I mean, they did ‘’The Hitcher’’?!
Yeah, they did a few – they did the remake, and before that there was [the sequel to the original film] The Hitcher comes to another town, or something?

(Hauer then recollects a moment from the original where one of the characters finds a finger in a bucket of French fries – he obviously loves the film – “What did he have for lunch? Fries!”. We chuckle. Then try and get it together again).

Your ‘’Hitcher’’ was the best by the way. Fabulous.
Yeah, I know. I think so too.

Why do you think ‘’Blade Runner’’ wasn’t a success initially?
I don’t think anybody knows. When it was released, people were torn. That’s never a good sign. If somebody farts, the whole release is in danger. I know some people said they ‘couldn’t get it’…um, …. What was the question?

Something about lunch? [Laughs]
[Laughs]

…No, just on why the film wasn’t received so well originally. I think you’re right – and I’d say the film was a little ahead of its time.
That’s sort of what people say when they don’t know the answer. It’s probably true I think…. The kids today just won’t have a problem at all with it. I just know so.

Is the character of Roy Batty a favourite of yours?
Yeah.

What are some of your others?
Blind Fury; I loved Ladyhawke; both Blindside and The Hitcher – they were brothers - Leggenda del santo bevitore was a beautiful story. I’d have to look at it, but I’d say a good 15percent of my work are favourites.

Would you say you’re at your best when you’re playing a villain?
No, I do that well. I don’t know why people are so impressed with my bad guys [though] – but they’re welcome to it. As an actor, I play characters – I don’t even think about what percentage of them are good or bad or ugly. I just jump into whatever is interesting. You don’t usually go for someone because he’s good or bad – I’m not good enough to be bad.

Back to ‘’Blade Runner,’’ how did you like working with Harrison Ford?
I didn’t see Harrison Ford much on the shoot – maybe 7 days of a month. Sometimes he was on the other side of the wall; sometimes he was out to lunch. So, I don’t know.. but when we worked he was fine. We have like a hobby, carpentry, basically. And so in our ‘woodiness’ I think we had an understanding.

That’s perfect – that’s going in bold letters! And Ridley Scott, how was he to work with?
Ridley is brilliant. It’s nice to dance with a brilliant filmmaker.

Are you a fan of science-fiction movies yourself?
No.

No?
No, not really.

What are some of your favourite film genres… or films… then?
I don’t know…. Psycho? This is not a cop out, but I don’t usually see many movies. I don’t have enough time to watch them.

That’s fair enough, you spend enough time around movies, why do you want to come home and watch them?
That’s really the truth. Life is only so long. I can’t dedicate all my life to movies so when I’m not working on one I usually do something else. I don’t know enough about what my colleagues are doing – and I feel terrible about it – but oh well, life’s short.

Someone mentioned to me a while ago that another film of yours has taken on somewhat of a cult status… ‘’Buffy the Vampire Slayer’’.
Oh great! That’s good to hear!

That’s another film that didn’t take off originally, but as a franchise has been hugely successful.
Yeah, Yeah – they made a series out of it.

And speaking of success, you were in ‘’Batman Begins’’ – what was it, last year… no, year before?
Sin City and Batman Begins. That was a nice year. What a wonderful year that was.

Are you in the next Batman movie?
I don’t think… I hope to speak to [Chris Nolan] in the next couple of days, but I don’t think so. I’ll ask him.

Your character was still alive at the end of the film, so you never know! And Earle is a good example of someone that’s not necessarily bad, but not necessarily good either…
Nobody was that great. We’re all a bit tattered and rough around the edges [in the movie]. I thought [Christian] Bale was pretty nasty in it at times. But they love him. He’s the new version of the hero I guess.

Do you think they will ever do a ‘’Blade Runner’’ sequel?
A sequel? I don’t think so. It takes a long time to do [one of these movies].

Yes, I saw in the documentary it took quite a few years to do the original.
It actually took them a lot longer. It’s normal for a film though. It takes years for any film. It’s not getting better right now… it’s getting a bit harder.

Especially when no writers are allowed to write!
[Laughs]

What have you got coming up?
I’ve got a ton of movies with a cloud hanging over them – it depends if the [actor’s] strike happens as to when they’ll happen. I have a movie in Montreal called Condemned; that’s in February. I also have a workshop for European filmmakers. I’m also organizing a short film festival, in Milan, which will also have an online life. It took three years to get that website. I think that’s going to change the world.

BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT is on DVD December 19 from Warner Home Video.

There will be MySpace Black Carpet screenings of BLADE RUNNER : THE FINAL CUT in Melbourne and Sydney, with RUTGER HAUER in attendance, this week. Click here for details

- CLINT MORRIS