2036: Nexus Dawn

Set in 2036, the short follows Jared Leto's Niander Wallace as he pushes a new line of perfected replicants called the Nexus 9. Wallace argues that these models can bypass the flaws of earlier versions and should end the ban on replicants. The piece concentrates on backstage negotiations with lawmakers while the clock ticks, showing how corporate ambition collides with legal boundaries. Several scenes juxtapose Wallace's confident rhetoric with guarded responses from the legislative chamber, hinting at pressure from the Wallace corporation and the broader Blade Runner world. The narrative stays focused on the ethics of synthetic life and the high stakes of repealing prohibitions that shape the future of this franchise. Wallace's charisma contrasts with cautious lawmakers, creating a charged dynamic that mirrors broader debates about power, technology, and the fate of replicants within the world.

Directed by Luke Scott, this in-world short bridges to Blade Runner 2049. It credits Ridley Scott, Michael Green, and Hampton Fancher as creators tied to the Blade Runner universe, released in 2017, and aimed at deepening the franchise's backstory.

Box office figures for this in-world short were not publicly disclosed due to its limited release and narrative focus. It circulated mainly online and through special screenings, functioning as a lore fragment rather than a standalone hit.

Although compact, Nexus Dawn expands Blade Runner lore by detailing Niander Wallace’s push for a Nexus 9 and the tense talks with lawmakers that spotlight corporate leverage over law. Its visuals, with stark corridors and holographic interfaces, fed fan anticipation for Blade Runner 2049 and raised questions about AI ethics.

The reception and themes show a score of 6.868 out of 10 from 403 votes, signaling a mixed but engaged reception among fans. It centers on power, control, and the ethics of synthetic life, probing what repeal of prohibitions could unleash on society and positioning Nexus Dawn as a tense prologue to the moral debates ahead.