Ana de Armas will join Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright and Dave Bautista in a leading role in Alcon Entertainment's sequel to Ridley Scott's 1982 masterpiece Blade Runner, it was announced by Alcon co-founders and co-CEO's Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson. Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Prisoners) is directing Blade Runner 2. Principal photography is scheduled to begin July 2016. The film will be released by Warner Bros. in North America and Sony Pictures Releasing International will distribute in all media for all overseas territories.

Cuban born Ana de Armas began her career in Spanish language film and television in Cuba, then later Spain. She will be seen in two major motion pictures releasing this August, including The Weinstein Company's boxing biopic Hands of Stone, in which she appears alongside Robert De Niro and Edgar Ramirez, and Warner Bros.' comedic drama War Dogs starring Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. Here's what Alcon's Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson had to say in a statement.

"We think Ana is one of the most exciting, up-and-coming international actors in the world today, and we are thrilled she will be playing such an important part in this sequel."

The Blade Runner sequel is set several decades after the 1982 original, with Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role as Rick Deckard. Ryan Gosling co-stars. The film is written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and succeeds the initial story by Fancher and David Peoples based on Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Story details are not being revealed. Multi-Oscar nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins (Sicario, Prisoners) will reunite with Villeneuve on the project.

Alcon Entertainment acquired the film, television and ancillary franchise rights to Blade Runner in 2011 from the late producer Bud Yorkin and Cynthia Sikes Yorkin to produce prequels and sequels to the iconic science-fiction thriller. Cynthia Sikes Yorkin will produce along with Johnson and Kosove. Bud Yorkin will receive producer credit. Frank Giustra and Tim Gamble, CEO's of Thunderbird Films, will serve as executive producers. Ridley Scott will also executive produce. Bill Carraro will executive produce. Ana is represented by CAA, Impression Entertainment and Grubman Shire & Meiselas, P.C.