Soldier (1998)

Paul W. S. Anderson's 1998 film, written by David Peoples as a Blade Runner "sidequel".

Soldier (1998) is Paul W. S. Anderson's American science fiction action film from a script by David Peoples, credited as David Webb Peoples, in which a highly skilled, genetically-advanced soldier defies his commanders and must face a relentless, brutal rival. Peoples wrote it in 1982 while Blade Runner was in production, and in 1998 he called Soldier a "spin-off sidequel-spiritual successor" to that film, placing both in one fictional universe.

Quick Facts

Released: 1998
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Writer: David Peoples
Star: Kurt Russell
Setting: 2036

Facts from the source article.

Background

The film obliquely refers to various elements of stories written by Philip K. Dick, and film adaptations thereof. The wreckage on the film's junk planet contains a Spinner from Blade Runner. Todd, Kurt Russell's character, carries his battle records tattooed on his arm, among them "The Battle of Tannhäuser Gate", a battle Rutger Hauer's Roy Batty also claimed to have fought.

There is also the implication that the genetically-engineered soldiers built to replace Todd and his comrades are replicants, picking up a Blade Runner theme; the 2017 short 2036: Nexus Dawn puts the development of Nexus-9 replicants around 2036, and 2036 is when Soldier is set. The Battle of Tannhäuser Gate even appears onscreen in a deleted scene.