Recreating Rachael in 'Blade Runner 2049'

Sci-fi sequel "Blade Runner 2049" uses cutting-edge visual effects to recreate the character of Rachael, played by Sean Young, exactly as she was in the 1982 film. Here's how they did it.

Visual effects company MPC created a digital model head, identical to that of the young Rachael.

Sean Young in the original film. Young returned for the sequel to be photographed and to provide reference on set while Rachael's scene was filmed.

The digital head was then added to real footage involving a stand-in on set with co-star Harrison Ford.

In this shot, the digital model of Rachael's head lends a ghostly quality.

Stand-in Loren Peta took the place of original actor Sean Young for the sequel's pivotal scene.

The digital head built by MPC had to be perfect down to the finest detail.

Skin texture, makeup and even fly-away hairs were added to make the model look real.

We're trained to subconsciously recognize the subtlest nuances in faces, so we can be thrown by even the tiniest thing that doesn't look quite right -- an effect known as "the uncanny valley."

The digital effects team went into incredible detail, including complex soft tissue simulations on the face and eyes.

Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard with Sean Young as Rachael in Ridley Scott's 1982 film. Young acknowledged it's "nerve-wracking" to know that she could be recreated without her involvement, but she was glad to be involved in "2049."

Stand-in Loren Peta acts opposite Harrison Ford and Jared Leto.

Dots on Peta's face were used to track the movements of her head, which could then be mapped with the digital version.

Both Peta and Young were filmed saying Rachael's lines with a special head-tracking camera rig.

The digital model begins with a skull as a base, before building outward with tissue, skin and hair.

The MPC team also made small tweaks below the neck to "Rachael-ify" the performance.

The result is a pivotal moment in the story when we see Rachael as she was in the original film.

The model was animated to mimic Young's performance from the original film, drawing too on the performances from Young and Peta on the sequel's set.

Finally, the model was composited with the plate shot on set, with texture and lighting effects added.

Casting the scene's atmospheric lighting over the digital double completes the effect, making this one of the most polished digital doubles yet.