These posters only reinforce the unfortunate tone established by the teaser trailer: “Blade Runner 2049” is a movie consisting solely of two expressionless actors meandering (slowly, veeery slowly) from one dystopian futuristic set to the next, saying and doing very little. Not only does there appear to be no story, there appear to be no extras. Just a whole lot of empty sets. Where is the atmosphere!? Where is the “world”? The advertising effort here is so lackluster relative to the original, that it is beginning to suggest that the sequel has failed to inspire the marketing department.

As for the “beautiful” posters, the Gosling version would be greatly enhanced by removing that horrific stock flare that comes with every basic edition of Photoshop Elements. They should, at the very least, replace it with an interesting flare created just for the occasion. This is, after all, a franchise built on atmosphere and visuals.

Simply coasting on Roger Deakins is not a marketing strategy.